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MEMOIR 


OF 


EEV.   JOSEPH  BADGER 


By    E.     G.     HOLLAND. 


THIRD    EDITION. 


NEW     YORK  : 
C.  S.  FRANCIS  AND  CO.,  252  BROADWAY. 

BOSTON  :  BENJAMIN  H.   GREENE,  124  WASHINGTON  ST. 

1854. 


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Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congre.'s,  io  the  year  1853,  by 

MRS.  ELIZA  M.   BADGEfl, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Distri&t  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Western 

District  of  New  York. 


Yffi^ 


DAMRELL    &    MOORB, 

Printehf, 

16  Devonshire  Street.  Boston, 


ID 

(7) 


PRE  F A C  E 


The  present  volume  is  tlie  Memoir  of  a  man  and  a 
minister  whose  character  was  strikingly  individual, 
whose  services  to  Religion  in  its  more  liberal  and  un- 
sectarian  form  were  large  and  successful ;  and  in  the 
denomination  to  which  he  belonged,  no  man  was  more 
generally  known,  and  none,  we  believe,  ever  acted  a 
more  prominent  and  effective  part.  The  writer  of 
this  has  endeavored  to  set  forth  the  life  and  senti- 
ments of  Mr.  Badger,  to  a  large  extent  in  his  own 
language.  Much  of  his  journal  must  be  new  even  to 
old  acquaintance,  as  it  was  written  many  years  ago, 
and  no  part  of  it  has  ever  been  published.  To  those 
who  would  be  pleased  to  read  the  outlines  of  the 
greatest  theological  reformation  among  the  masses 
which  the  nineteenth  century  may  justly  claim,  we 
trust  this  volume  will  be  welcome  ;  likewise  to  all  those 
who  may  be  liberal  and  evangelical  Christians.  Aged 
men,  contemporaries  with  him,  will  rejoice  in  the  revival 
of  past  scenes,  and  the  young  will  be  taught,  encour- 
aged, and  warned  by  the  paternal  voices  of  the  de- 
parted. 

Two  classes  of  great  men  figure  effectively  on  the 
stage  of  the  world.     One  class  are  strongest  in  writing. 


iv  PREFACE. 

Their  written  words  embody  the  entire  elegance  and 
power  of  their  minds.  Such  were  Webster  and  Chan- 
ning.  The  other  class  are  strongest  in  speech.  Their 
personal  presence,  their  spontaneous  eloquence  in  oral 
discourse,  alone  express  their  mind  and  heart.  Such 
were  Clay,  Henry,  and  "VVTiitfield.  To  the  latter 
classification  Mr.  Badger  unquestionably  belongs. 
Though  the  marks  of  superiority  are  variously  appa- 
rent, in  his  papers,  it  was  in  the  more  natural  medium 
of  oral  speech  that  his  genius  shone.  Having  now 
completed  the  task  demanded  by  my  duty  to  the  family 
of  Mr.  Badger,  I  would,  in  the  name  of  the  self-sacri- 
ficing, trusting  faith  of  which  he  was  no  common  ex- 
ample, send  forth  this  volume  to  the  world,  hoping  that 
in  an  ease-loving  age,  the  presentation  of  a  Lutheran 
force  in  the  example  of  a  son  of  New  Hampshire  may 
serve  to  awaken  in  others  a  kindred  energy. 


CONTENTS 


Chapter  I.    Birth  and  Ancestry. 

II.      CUILDHOOD, 

III.  Youth  and  Education. 

IV.  CONVEKSION, 

V.  Call  to  and  Entrance  upon  the  Ministry. 

"VI.  Public  Labors  in  the  Province.  - 

VII.  Tour  to  New  England,  and  Public  Labors. 

VIII.  Ordination  and  Public  Labors. 

IX.  Public  Labors  —  Marriage  — Travels. 

X.  Labors  and  Settlement  in  Western  New  York. 

XI.  Thoughts  and  Incidents  of  1819  and  1S20. 

XII.  Writings  —  Marriage  —  Travels. 

XIII.  Correspondence  — Visits  at  Angelica  with  D.  D. 

How,  THE  Murderer  — Sermon  at  the  Gallows. 

XIV.  Journey  at  the  South  —  Published  Journal. 

XV.    Ministry  at  Boston. 

XVI.    Four  Months'  Labor  in  the  Counties  of  Ononda- 
ga AND  Cayuga,  New  York,  in  1828  and  1829, 

WITH   other  parts  OF  HIS   PUBLIC  LiFB,  EXTEND- 
ING TO  May,  1832. 

XVII.    Editorial  Life. 

XVIII.    General  Vie>y3. 


VI  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  XIX.    Ministry  —  Published  "Writings  and  Impor- 
tant Events  from  May,  1839,  to  March,  1848. 

XX.    Retired  Life— Reading — Travels— Departure 
—1848  to  1852. 

XXI.    Outlines  of  Character. 

XXII.    Addresses  —  Sermons— Reminiscences  -Views 
of  Contemporaries. 

XXIII.    Reflections. 


MEMOIR 


CHAPTER  I. 

BIRTII     AND     ANCESTRY. 

In  so  young  a  world  as  America,  it  has  been  held 
unsuitable  for  persons  to  spend  much  time  in  the 
tracing  of  pedigree,  or  to  found  important  claims  on 
family  descent ;  nor  can  it  accord  less  with  the  common 
sense  of  mankind  than  with  the  republican  genius 
of  the  world,  to  say,  that  every  genuine  claim  to  human 
esteem  is  founded  in  character.  In  this  is  rooted  every 
quality  that  can,  of  right,  command  the  reverence  of 
man.  But,  as  character  is  not  exactly  isolated  and 
independent  of  ancestral  fountains,  from  which  the 
innate  impulses,  capacity,  and  tendency  to  good  and 
evil  have  flown,  the  subject  of  ancestry  justly  belongs 
to  the  history  of  every  man's  mind  and  life.  Our  an- 
cestors flow  in^  our  veins.  We  retain  them  more  or 
less  in  our  characters  always,  so  that  the  great  stress 
which  different  countries  have  put  upon  this  theme,  rests 
on  other  than  artificial  and  ostentatious  reasons.  In 
nature,  below  man,  the    various  circuits  and  orders  of 


8  MEMOIR    OF 

being  do  nothing  more  than  to  repeat  ancestral  forms 
and  habits,  to  which  the  sweet  rose,  the  eagle,  and  the 
strong-armed  oak,  are  perpetual  witnesses  ;  and  though 
man,  by  his  God-like  faculty  of  will  is  lifted  out,  in  a 
great  measure,  from  this  necessity,  he  is  so  far  a  deri- 
vation from  the  past,  that  he  ought  to  be  seen  in  his 
connections  with  it.  We  therefore  introduce  the  sub- 
ject of  Mr.  Badger's  ancestry  as  the  chief  part  of  the 
first  chapter  of  this  book. 

Joseph  Badger,  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  was  a 
native  of  Gilmanton,  Strafford  county,  New  Hamp- 
shire, born  August  16th,  1792.  From  an  early  manu- 
script of  his  I  copy  the  following  lines  :  — 

"  Mj  father,  Peaslee  Badger,  was  born  at  Haverhill, 
Mass.,  1756.  He  was  the  son  of  General  Joseph  Badger, 
who  was  a  native  of  that  place.  When  my  father  was 
nine  years  of  age,  his  father  removed  to  Gilmanton,  N. 
H.,  where  his  family  was  settled,  and  where  my  grandsire, 
General  Joseph,  ended  his  days  in  peace,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  1803.  The  good  instruction  I  received  from  him, 
before  my  ninth  year,  will  never  be  effaced  from  my 
memory.  His  name  will  long  be  held  in  remembrance  as  a 
peacemaker,  and  a  great  statesman.  Every  recollection 
of  him  is  a  fulfilment  of  the  sacred  passage  — '  The 
memory  of  the  righteous  is  blessed.' 

"In  1781,  my  father  was  married  to  Lydia  Kelley, 
born  in  Lee,  N.  H,  1759,  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Philip  Kelley,  who,  in  the  triumphs  of  faith,  departed  this 
life  the  11th  of  June,  180O,  at  New  Hampton,  N.  H. 
For  the  space  of  thirty-six  years  my  father  resided  at 
Gilmanton.  Li  our  family  were  nine  children,  five  sons 
and  four  daughters.     I  was  the  fourth  son,  and  the  old 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  9 

general,  of  whom  I  have  already  spoken,  selected  me  as 
the  one  to  bear  up  his  name.  I  was  accordingly  named 
for  him  ;  but  alas !  I  fear  I  have  fallen  greatly  below  his 
excellent  examples." 

Among  his  ancestors,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  that  he 
most  resembled,  in  mind  and  body,  the  venerable  man 
whose  name  he  bore.  The  personal  form  of  Gen. 
Joseph  Badger,  as  described  in  history,  in  which  he  is 
represented  as  nearly  six  feet  in  stature,  somewhat  cor- 
pulent, light  and  fair  in  complexion,  and  of  dignified 
manners,  answers  most  aptly  to  the  subject  of  this 
memoir ;  nor  is  the  correspondence  less  perfect,  when 
his  mental  qualities  of  foresight,  order,  firmness,  tact, 
and  generosity  are  considered.  "  As  a  military  man," 
says  the  faithful  pen  of  history,  "  General  Badger  was 
commanding  in  his  person,  well  skilled  in  the  science 
of  military  tactics,  expert  as  an  officer,  and  courageous 
and  faithful  in  the  performance  of  every  trust.  With 
him  order  was  law,  rights  were  most  sacred,  and  the 
discharge  of  duty  was  never  to  be  neglected." 

Himdreds,  into  whose  hands  this  volume  will  fall, 
will  never  forget  the  promptness  and  the  courageous 
efficiency  Avith  which  Rev.  Joseph  Badger  met  every 
public  duty,  and  every  great  emergency ;  and  though 
his  field  was  the  ministry,  and  his  soldierly  skill  that 
which  referred  to  the  Cross,  none  who  ever  knew  him 
can  cease  to  remember  the  ready,  natural,  and  com- 
manding generalship  by  which  his  entire  action  and 
influence  in  the  world  were  distinguished.  He  did  not 
float  Avith  the  wave  of  circumstance,  bub  carefully  laid 
out  his  labors  into  system,  always  having  a  purpose  and 
1* 


10  MEMOIR    OF 

a  plan  ;  and  not  unfrequentlj  did  his  active  energy  and 
position  in  life,  amidst  many  difficulties,  remind  one  of 
a  campaign.  No  mind,  acting  in  the  same  sphere,  was 
ever  more  productive  in  ways  and  means.  Though  a 
clergyman,  he  was  a  general,  aiid  one,  we  should  say, 
of  no  common  tact  and  skill. 

His  father,  Major  Peaslee  Badger,  with  whom  the 
writer  of  this  memoir  was  acquainted,  was  a  man  of 
strong  mental  powers,  quick  perceptions,  and  of  great 
vivacity.  The  quality  last  named,  for  which  the  sub- 
ject of  these  biographical  sketches  was  so  generally 
distinguished,  is  readily  traceable  to  his  father ;  and 
the  same  remark  in  regard  to  quickness  of  perception 
might  also  apply,  but  for  the  fact  that  the  mind  of  the 
son  was  more  intuitive,  and  that  he  possessed  both  the 
qualities  spoken  of  in  a  greater  degree.  Joseph  Badg- 
er, though  at  heart  deeply  imbued  with  the'  solemnity 
and  importance  of  all  that  belongs  to  the  Gospel  of 
human  salvation,  was  no  anchorite  in  sj)irit,  no  despond- 
ing meditator  on  man  or  his  lot ;  he  wore  no  form- 
alities of  a  pretending  sanctity.  He  had  the  good 
fortune  never  to  have  lost  his  naturalness  ;  and  I  think 
I  never  saw  one  in  whose  nature  was  treasured  a 
greater  fulness  of  social  life.  It  was  apparent  that 
Major  Badger  had  a  memory  that  was  strong  even  in 
advanced  years  ;  that  he  was  a  general  reader,  and  had 
reflected  very  independently  ;  that,  though  capable  of 
tender  emotions  and  kindness  of  heart,  the  intellect 
had  pretty  full  ascendency  over  his  sympathetic  nature  ; 
and  that,  in  social  feehng,  in  aifection,  in  fineness  of 
nature,  and  in  general  sympathy,  his  son  possessed  the 
richer  inheritance. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  11 

His  mother  was  a  Christian,  and  judging  from  her 
letters,  was  an  affectionate  woman,  of  good  plain  sense, 
and  rich  in  sympathy  and  maternal  care.  Father, 
mother  and  son  are  now  in  the  spiritual  world.* 

As  there  are  several  public  men  wearing  the  family 
name  of  Badger,  and  as  there  are  different  branches  of 
the  same  original  family  that  in  an  early  day  exchanged 
their  home  in  England  for  the  then  comparative  wilder- 
ness of  New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts,  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  spirit  of  adventure  tliat  drew,  in  those 
times,  the  most  earnest  and  enterprising  persons  to  the 
New  World,  I  have  thought  it  proper  briefly  to  present 
the  lineage  of  Rev.  Joseph  Badger  from  the  settlement 
of  the  first  family  of  this  name  in  Massachusetts  ;  in 
doing  which  I  shall  not  rely  on  uncertain  tradition,  but 
on  the  published  history  of  Gilmanton,  N.  II.,  and  on 
the  Memoir  of  Hon.  Joseph  Badger,  both  of  Avhich  are 
now  before  me.  From  these  authorities  it  appears  that 
the  Badger  framily  is  of  English  origin,  that  its  founder 


*  Mrs.  Peaslee  Badger  died  1834,  at  Compton,  Lower  Canada. 
Major  Peaslee  Badger  died  at  Gilmanton,  N.  II.  M.  P.  Cogswell,  in 
transmitting  the  news  of  his  death,  says  —  "  I  now  have  the  painful 
duty  to  perform  of  giving  you  information  of  the  decease  of  your  hon- 
ored father,  who  died  at  Gilmanton,  October  13,  1846,  at  12  o'clock 
at  night,  and  was  buried  on  this  day,  the  loth,  in  the  old  family  burial 
ground,  by  the  side  of  his  father  and  mother.  The  Rev.  Daniel  Lan- 
caster preached  a  good  discourse  at  our  old  Smith  Meeting  Houf.c, 
from  Ecc.  12  :  7;  he  spoke  well  and  feelingly  of  the  Major;  of  his 
^igh  order  of  talents,  of  his  remarkably  retentive  memory  of  the 
Scriptures,  and  so  forth.  Thus  has  our  honored  father  gone  down  to 
the  grave,  as  said  Mr.  Lancaster,  like  a  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe  in  its 
season,  at  the  age  of  92  years  and  six  months,  lacking  nine  days.  The 
day  was  beautiful  for  the  season  ;  Gov.  Badger  and  family,  as  likewise 
all  the  relatives  in  Gilmanton  and  vicinity  were  present,  and  the 
whole  scene  was  solemnly  impressive." 


12  MEMOIR    OF 

was  Giles  Badger,*  who  settled  at  Newbury,  Mass., 
previous  to  June  30,  in  1643,  only  twenty-three  years 
after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims.  His  son,  John 
Badger,  a  man  of  much  respectability  in  his  day,  was 
by  his  first  wife,  the  father  of  four  children,  only  three 
of  whom,  John,  Sarah  and  James,  lived  to  arrive  at 
years  of  responsibility,  the  first  having  died  in  infancy. 
His  first  wife,  Elizabeth,  died  April  8th,  1669.  By 
his  second  wife,  Hannah  Swett,  to  whom  he  was  married 
February  23d,  1671,  he  had  Stephen,  Hannah,  Nathan- 
iel, Mary,  Elizabeth,  Ruth,  Joseph,  Daniel,  Abigail 
and  Lydia.  Both  of  the  parents  died  in  1691.  John 
Badger,  Jr.,  a  merchant  in  Newbury,  married  Miss 
Rebecca  Brown,  October  5,  1691 ;  their  children  were 
John,  James,  Elizabeth,  Stephen,  Joseph^  Benjamin 
-and  Dorothy.     Joseph  was  bom  in  1698. 

Joseph  Badger,  son  of  John  Badger,  Jr.,  was  a 
merchant,  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,t  and  married  Hannah, 
daughter  of  Col.  Nathaniel  Peaslee.  Among  his  seven 
children  was  General  Joseph  Badger,  whose  usefulness 
and  excellence  of  character  are  strongly  expressed  in 
the  pages  before  me.  He  married  Hannah  Pearson, 
January  31st,  1740  ;  their  children  were  twelve  in 
number,  among  whom  was  Major  Peaslee  Badger,  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  and  the  Hon. 
Joseph  Badger,  Jr.,  the  father  of  Hon.  William  Badger, 
late  Governor  of  New  Hampshire.  Several  of  this 
name  have  been  distinguished  for  abihty,  and  have 

*  The  History  of  Gilmanton,  from  the  first  settlement  to  the  pres- 
ent time,  1845.  By  Daniel  Lancaster,  p.  2o6.  Also,  Memoir  of 
Hon.  Joseph  Badger,  p.  1. 

t  See  American  Quarterly  Register,  vol.  xiii,  No.  3,  p.  317. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  13 

held  important  positions  of  public  duty.  Some  have 
been  active  in  the  defence  of  their  country,  some  in  the 
cause  of  education,  the  administration  of  justice,  and 
the  affairs  of  political  life  ;  and  like  the  distinguished 
men  of  New  Hampshire  generally,  they  mostly  seem 
to  have  had  strong  natures,  with  characters  marked  by 
native  vigor  and  original  force. 

South  of  the  White  Mountains  some  fifty  miles,  and 
near  the  Lake  and  River  Winnipiseogee,  is  the  old  town 
of  Gilmanton.  As  the  mind  of  Mr.  Badger,  during 
his  childhood  in  this  place,  was  lastingly  impressed  by 
the  society  and  instruction  of  his  uncle,  I  have  thought 
best  to  copy  the  presentation  of  his  character  as  found 
in  the  published  history  of  Gilmanton. 

"  In  the  early  settlement  of  Gilmanton,"  says  Mr.  Lan- 
caster, "  no  individual  was  more  distinguished  than  Gen. 
Joseph  Badger.  He  was  born  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  Jan. 
11,  1722;  and  was  the  eldest  child  of  Joseph  Badger,  a 
merchant  in  that  place,  who  was  one  of  the  wealthiest 
and  most  influential  men  of  that  town.  Li  the  time  of 
the  Revolution,  he  was  an  active  and  eflicient  officer,  was 
muster-master  of  the  troops  raised  in. this  section  of  the 
State,  and  was  employed  in  furnishing  supplies  for  the 
army.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  and 
a  member  of  the  Convention  that  adopted  the  Constitu- 
tion. He  was  appointed  Brigadier  General  June  27th, 
1780,  and  Judge  of  Probate  for  Strafford  county,  Decem- 
ber Gth,  1784.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  State  Coun- 
cil in  1784,  1790,  and  1791. 

**  He  was  a  uniform  friend  and  supporter  of  the  institu- 
tions of  learning  and  religion.  He  not  only  provided  for 
the  education  of  his  own  children  by  procuring  private 


14  MEMOIR    OF 

teachers,  but  he  also  took  a  lively,  interest  in  the  early- 
establishment  of  common  schools  for  the  education  of  chil- 
dren generally.  Not  content  with  such  efforts  merely,  he 
did  much  in  founding  and  erecting  the  Academy  in^  Gil- 
manton.  which  has  been  already  a  great  blessing  to  the 
place  and  the  vicinity.  He  was  one  of  the  most  generous 
contributors  to  its  funds,  and  was  one  of  its  Trustees,  and 
the  President  of  the  Board  of  Trust  until  his  death.  In- 
structed in  his  childhood,  by  pious  parents,  in  the  princi- 
ples of  religion,  he  early  appreciated  the  blessings  of  the 
Christian  ministry.  Having  become  the  subject  of  divine 
grace,  he  publicly  professed  religion,  and  espoused  the 
cause  of  Christ.  As  he  was  a  generous  supporter  of  the 
institutions  of  the  Gospel,  so  to  his  hospitable  mansion 
the  ministers  of  religion  always  found  a  most  hearty  wel- 
come. While  the  rich  and  great  honored  him,  the  poor 
held  him  in  remembrance  for  his  generous  liberality. 
His  whole  life  was  marked  by  wisdom,  prudence,  integ- 
rity, firmness,  and  benevolence.  Great  consistency  was 
manifested  in  all  his  deportment.  He  died  April  4th, 
1803,  in  the  82d  year  of  his  age  —  ripe  in  years,  ripe  in 
character  and  reputation,  and  ripe  as  a  Christian.  The 
text  selected  for  his  funeral  sermon  was  strikingl}'  charac- 
teristic of  the  man.  '  And  behold,  there  was  a  man 
named  Joseph,  a  counsellor,  and  he  w^as  a  good  man  and 
a  just.' " 

Kev.  Joseph  Badger  had  indeed  a  noble  ancestry ; 
and,  in  natural  ability,  in  creative  and  executive  intel- 
lect, in  force  of  character  and  in  general  usefulness,  he 
is  probably  unexcelled  by  the  worthy  examples  that  in 
past  time  may  have  shed  honor  upon  the  name.     I 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  15 

have  dwelt  thus  long  on  the  parentage  and  ancestry  of 
Mr.  B.,  not  because  I  regard  the  tenacity  of  the 
Jewish  race  on  the  subject  of  lineage,  nor  the  general 
excess  of  oriental  homage  to  departed  fathers,  but 
because  we  appreciate  the  law  of  cause  and  eifect,  as 
it  is  manifested  in  the  course  of  hereditary  descent, 
which  forbids  that  any  man's  written  history  shall  begin 
like  the  priesthood  of  Melchizcdck,  succcssionless  and 
without  descent. 

In  approaching  another  chapter,  the  early  life  of 
Mr.  Badger,  perhaps  nothing  is  more  strikingly  appro- 
priate to  the  reader  than  the  exclamation  which  stands 
as  the  first  line  of  an  old  manuscript  from  his  own 
pen,  with  which  he  begins  his  personal  narrative,  viz. : 
^' What  a  mystery  is  L^fe!^^  Ah!  who  can  wTcstle 
with  this  wonder  so  as  to  exhaust  it  of  its  marvel- 
lousncss  ?  Who  can  explain  the  innate  genius,  and 
impulse,  with  the  endless  play  of  outward  circumstance, 
that  so  constantly  drive  these  human  myriads  on  to 
their  various  destiny  ?  Scribes  can  record  what  out- 
wardly transpires  ;  and  even  the  reason  can  do  nothing 
more  than  to  look  through  the  cluster  of  outward 
development  we  call  man's  history,  to  its  centre  in  the 
inward  life,  where,  though  it  may  see  the  harmonious 
relationship  of  the  facts  to  the  soul  whence  they  have 
flown ;  where,  though  it  may  perceive  the  combination 
of  mental  and  moral  qualities  that  make  up  the  man,  it 
is  at  last  obliged  to  own  the  impenetrability  of  the  veil 
that  hides  the  genius  that  has  taken  individual  form 
for  some  end  of  its  own  ;  and  through  the  whole  drama 
of  man  it  owtis  that  life  is  enacted  in  the  temple  of 


16  MEMOIR    OF 

mystery.     Mr.  Badger's  written  journal,   among  its 
opening  paragraphs,  has  the  following  quotation : 

"  'T  is  Heaven's  decree,  in  mercy,  that  mankind 
Should  to  their  future  destiny  be  blind  ; 
Impatient  man  rejects  his  present  state, 
"With  eager  steps  to  meet  approaching  fate, 
Yet  would  the  future,  in  perspective  cast. 
Display  the  exact  resemblance  of  the  past; 
When  o'er  the  stage  of  human  life  we  range, 
The  scenes  continue  but  the  actors  change." 


CHAPTER    II. 


CHILDHOOD. 


The  town  of  Gilmanton,  which  is  only  forty-five 
miles  from  Portsmouth,  sixteen  from  Concord,  and 
eighty  from  Boston,  is,  to  a  great  extent,  of  rocky  and 
hilly  surface,  having  within  its  limits  a  chain  of  emi- 
nences that  vary  in  height  from  three  hundred  to  one 
thousand  feet,  called  the  Suncook  Range,  which  com- 
mences at  the  northern  extremity,  near  the  Lake,  and 
extending  in  a  south-easterly  direction  through  the 
town,  divides  the  head-springs  of  the  Suncook  and 
the  Soucook  rivers.  These  fruitful  highlands,  covered 
in  their  early  state  with  various  kinds  of  hardwood, 
interspread  with  ever-welcome  evergreens,  have  some 
commanding  positions  ;  especially  the  one  called  Peaked 
Hill,  from  whose  summit  the  observer  discovers  within 
the  area  of  his  extended  prospect  the  State  House  of 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  17 

Concord,  tlie  Grand  Monadnock,*  in  Jaffrej  and  Dublin, 
the  Ascutney,t  in  Windsor,  Vt.,  the  Moosehillock,  in  Co- 
ventry, J  Mount  Major,  the  highest  summit  in  the  toAvn  of 
Gihnanton,§  and  Mount  Washington, ||  which  is  the  high- 
est of  the  White  Mountains.  It  was  amidst  scenery  Hke 
this  that  the  early  unfolding  of  the  mind  of  Joseph 
Badger  occurred,  where  the  spirit  of  beauty  which 
everywhere  finds  mediums  of  influence  and  approach 
to  man,  found  some  romantic  symbols  of  her  presence, 
-vjrith  which  to  impress  the  tender  mind.  Nature,  which 
is  everywhere  the  hundred-handed  educator,  is  an 
agency  not  to  be  omitted  even  in  speaking  of  child- 
hood, for  children  see  it  from  the  heart  and  learn  from 
it  unconsciously.  But  entering  the  field  of  personal 
incident,  let  us  listen  to  his  own  recorded  memories. 

"I  cannot  describe,  as  some  have  attempted  to  do, 
what  transpired  when  only  two  or  three  years  of  age  ;  but 
when  four  or  five,  I  most  distinctly  remember  going  with 
my  sisters  on  a  visit  to  my  grandsire's,  Gen.  Joseph 
Badger.  It  was  but  a  few  miles,  and  there  being  a 
school  near,  I  consented  through  much  persuasion  to  re- 
main and  attend  it.  The  departure  of  my  sisters  was  to 
me  the  severest  trial  I  had  known,  one  of  whom  however 
remained  to  comfort  me.  Here  new  and  strange  things, 
of  which  I  had  never  before  heard,  presented  themselves 
to  my  mind.  At  evening  the  family  and  servants  were 
all  called  in.  I  was  much  surprised  at  the  gathering,  and 
inquired  the  cause.  My  sister  told  me  that  we  were 
about  to  attend  prayers.  My  young  expectations  were 
raised  to  see  something  new,  as  before  this  I  had  never 

*  3,450  ft.  high.  t  3,320  ft.  +  4,636  ft. 

§  1000  ft.  II  6,314  ft. 


18  MEMOIR    OF 

heard  of  anything  of  the  kind.     Whilst  we  were  assembled, 
the  old  gentleman  with  thegreatest  solemnity  leaning  over 
his  chair  with  his  face  to  the  wall  prayed  some  time.     I 
knew  not  w^hat  he  said,  nor  to  whom  he  spoke.     His 
speaking  with  his  eyes  shut,  and  all  the  rest  standing  in 
profound  silence,  excited  much  anxiety  in  me  for  an  ex- 
planation.    As  soon  as  this  new  scene  had  closed  and  we 
had  retired,  I  remember  having  asked  my  sister  to  whom 
it  was  that  my  grandsire  had  been  speaking.     This  to  me 
was  a  mystery,  as  I  saw  no  other  standing  by  him.     She 
told  me  that  be  spoke  to  God      I  saw  at  once  from  her 
description  that  I  was  wholly  ignorant  of  such  a  Being. 
She  also  told  me  that  there  was  a  place  of  happiness  and 
misery,  that  all  the  good  people  went  to  heaven,  and  that 
the  wicked  must  be  burned  up.     I  thought  my  sister  Mary 
the  happiest  person  in  the  world,  because  she  knew  so 
much  about  those  great  things ;  and  young  as  I  was,  the 
story  she  told  me  tilled  my  mind  with  solemnity;  whilst 
the  view  she  gave  me  of  the  certain  doom  of  the  wicked 
caused  me  to  weep  much,  for  I  thought  that  I  was  one  of 
that  number.     Impressions  there  made,  and  ideas  there 
formed  never  wore  off  my  mind." 

"  But  another  scene  opened  to  my  view,  which  also 
much  surprised  me.  As  there  were  several  small  children 
about  the  house,  they  were  all  called  up  at  evening  to  say 
their  prayers.  They  repeated  the  Lord's  prayer,  with 
some  additions.  This  made  my  young  heart  tremble,  as 
I  thought  they  were  all  Christians,  and  I  knew  /  never 
prayed  in  my  life ;  and  further,  I  knew  not  what  to  say. 
After  all  the  rest  had  gone  through  their  prayers,  I  was 
called  up.  My  grandmother  asked  me  if  I  ever  prayed. 
I  answered  that  I  never  did.  She  then  told  me  to  say 
the  words  after  her,  which  I  refused  to  do,  from  the  feel- 
ing in  my  mind  that  the  name  of  God  was  so  holy  and  so 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  19 

great  that  I  could  not  speak  that  word.  I  wept  aloud  as 
she  enjoined  on  me  this  practice,  and  was  finally  excused. 
I  very  much  dreaded  to  have  night  come  again.  For 
several  nights  I  was  excused,  and  listened  to  the  others ; 
but  finally  she  insisted  on  my  praying,  telling  me  plainly 
that  I  should  be  made  to  pray.  Tliat  night  she  prepared 
a  large  whip  and  applied  it  to  me  severely  several  times  be- 
fore I  would  submit.  At  length  I  repeated  the  prayer,  and 
from  that  time  adopted  the  practice  regularly.  Tli rough 
the  influence  of  my  sister,  I  was  afterwards  induced  to 
thank  my  grandmother  for  the  whipping,  though  I  now 
think  some  milder  measures  had  done  as  well." 

In  those  stern  Puritan  days,  the  whip  was  far  from 
being  an  idle  instrument  in  teaching  the  rebellious 
young  the /(E^a?*  of  the  Lord.  Whatever  was  accepted 
as  duty-  in  religion,  had  no  compromise  with  the  diver- 
sity of  taste  and  inclination  in  the  families  of  the 
faithful.  The  reader,  I  think,  will  be  unable  to  with- 
hold his  admiration  from  the  naturalness  of  the  question 
which  the  child  asked  in  relation  to  whom  it  was  that 
the  praying  man  was  speaking  ;  and  he  will  hardly  fail 
to  see  the  diflference  between  his  first  religious  devotions 
and  the  free  appeal  of  ancient  Scripture  in  saying, 
"  Choose  ye  this  day  whom  ye  will  serve,"  as  the 
choice  was  made  for  him,  and  the  rod  was  virtuous 
enough  to  see  it  enacted.  Ho  remained  at  this  place 
about  two  years,  making  considerable  proficiency  in 
learning,  and,  as  he  thought,  some  in  religion.  Among 
these,  his  childhood's  musings,  was  the  wonder  that  he 
never  heard  his  father  pray,  and  why  his  brothers,  who 
were  older  and  of  more  understanding  than  himself, 
never  talked  about  God.     "  It  is  still  a  great  cause  of 


20  MEMOIR    OF 

lamentation  to  me,"  said  he  in  riper  years,  "  that  men 
of  understanding  dwell  no  more  on  the  glorias  of  the 
great  Benefactor.  In  mj  opinion,  a  sense  of  religion 
should  be  early  awakened,  as  first  impressions  are 
lasting,  whether  for  good  or  for  evil,  and  often  appear 
in  future  years  as  the  governing  influence,  as  the 
foundation  of  future  action.  Ask  the  vilest  man  that 
whu-ls  along  in  his  career  of  evil,  if  he  never  thinks  of 
the  warnings,  instructions  and  prayers  of  his  fond 
parent  in  early  days,  and  if  he  answers  candidly  he 
will  say  that  they  often  arise  to  his  condemnation.  The 
destinies  of  different  men  are  always  teaching  the 
worth  of  that  holy  wisdom  which  said,  '  Train  up  a 
child  in  the  way  he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old  he 
will  not  depart  from  it.'  In  glancing  back  at  the 
religion  of  my  childhood,  I  find  that  I  was  uncon- 
sciously Pharisaical,  and  leaned  on  the  virtue  of  my 
prayers  and  good  works,  although  in  the  mixture  there 
was  a  great  degree  of  sincerity  and  of  heartfelt  repent- 
ance. Although  I  was  wholly  ignorant,  probably,  of 
the  true  love  of  God,  I  have  always  thought  that,  had 
I  then  departed  this  life,  I  should  have  been  happy." 
I  have  alluded  to  the  fact  that  Major  Peaslee 
Badger  was  not  a  pietist,  and  that  in  his  family  were  no 
religious  forms.  At  this  time,  and  some  years  after, 
his  mind,  revolting  from  the  ordinary  theological 
teaching  of  the  day,  was  inclined  to  a  degree  of  gen- 
eral religious  unbelief.  The  minds  of  the  children 
were  not  softened  and  controlled  by  religious.reverence, 
the  absence  of  which  is  usually  followed  by  a  degree 
of  rudeness  in  regard  to  all  religious  form.  But,  fol- 
lowing the  child  Joseph  to  his  own  home,  now  that  he 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  21 

had  learned  to  love  the  voice  of  prayer,  we  find  him 
for  a  time  determined  in  the  way  he  had  learned. 

"  On  my  return  home,"  says  he,  "  I  missed  my  praying 
grandfather  and  his  religious  instructions,  which  had  been 
frequent  and  impressive.  I  also  missed  my  devoted  grand- 
mother, by  whose  side,  as  the  silence  of  night  came  down, 
I  had  kneeled  in  prayer.  Here  I  was  lost,  as  our  ftimily 
had  no  form  of  religious  worship,  and  their  minds  were  on 
different  subjects.  For  a  long  time  I  kept  up  my  form  of 
prayer,  but  at  last,  from  two  reasons,  fell  from  my  stead- 
fastness, which  were,  that  my  school-mates  none  of  them 
ever  prayed,  but  made  much  fun  of  me  for  this  practice; 
and  my  elder  brothers,  on  knowing  tliat  I  could  pray,  used 
to  coax  and  hire  me  to  do  so,  and  then  subject  me  to  much 
laughter  and  derision  for  doing  it.  Here  I  left  my  religious 
exercise,  which  had  served  to  keep  my  mind  in  a  good 
moral  state  ;  and  a  reaction  soon  followed,  that  found  me  a 
noted  swearer,  using  the  most  extravagant  expressions  that 
one  of  my  age  could  easily  command ;  a  course  in  which  I 
was  encouraged  by  my  father's  hired  men,  who  used  to  re- 
ward me  with  much  praise  and  laughter.  I  Nvell  remember, 
when  eight  years  old,  of  being  in  the  company  of  several  of 
Mr.  Page's  boys,  who  lived  near  my  father's.  Amidst  my 
swearing,  they,  being  very  steady,  began  to  rebuke  me 
and  to  warn  me  of  my  danger.  At  first,  I  resisted  their 
discourse,  but  the  force  of  their  arguments  was  such  that 
I  was  compelled  to  yield.  This  restored  me  from  my 
wicked  habit,  brought  back  my  former  feelings,  and  many 
a  time  did  I  think  of  it  afterwards.  It  was  also  very 
remarkable  that  in  1815  I  should  preach  in  the  same  place 
and  administer  baptism  to  one  of  those  young  men.  Dur- 
ing this  dark  interval  of  which  I  have  spoken,  there 
were  times  in  which  I  had  solemn  reflections ;  sickness 


22  MEMOIR    OF 

and  death,  when  I  heard  of  them,  brought  to  my  mind 
my  former  promise,  and  my  thoughts  always  arose  to  ray 
Creator  whenever  I  heard  the  voice  of  thunder." 

"  When  I  was  eight  or  nine  years  of  age,  I  attended  a 
singing-school,  in  which  I  made  rapid  progress  in  the  art, 
sharing  as  I  did,  in  common  with  our  family,  all  of  whom 
were  natural  singers,  a  passionate  love  of  music.  With 
this  new  employment  I  was  greatly  pleased.  In  the  sum- 
mer after  I  was  nine,  I  remember  going  to  the  Friends' 
meeting.  There  was  a  small  society  in  town,  much  de- 
spised by  the  popular.  Their  dress  and  manner  were 
new  to  me.  It  was  thought  in  those  days  a  dreadful  thing 
for  a  woman  to  speak  in  public  ;  and  this  was  the  first 
time  that  I  had  ever  listened  to  a  female  voice  in  meet- 
ing ;  and  notwithstanding  the  prejudice  through  which 
education  had  tr.ught  me  to  view  them,  the  persons  who 
spake  left  on  my  mind  the  impression  of  their  sincerity. 
Not  far  from  this  time,  I  went  to  the  Congregational 
church  to  hear  Mr.  Smith.  My  father  inquired,  on  my 
return,  if  I  remembered  the  text,  to  which  I  replied  in  the 
negative.  He  then  asked  me  if  I  could  give  him  one 
word  the  minister  had  spoken,  to  which  I  responded  that 
he  said  several  times  '  rambling  wolves,^  a  part  of  the 
discourse  that  I  could  not  have  forgotten,  as  I  had  heard 
stories  of  wolves  and  was  afraid  of  them.  I  inquired  his 
meaning,  when  some  of  the  family  replied  that  he  spoke 
of  the  Free-will  Baptists,  who  he  said  went  about  like 
wolves,  and  much  disturbed  and  deluded  many  good  and 
honest  people.  The  occasion  of  this  assault,  as  I  after- 
wards learned,  was  the  great  success  which  attended  the 
preaching  of  Elder  Kendall  and  other  of  Christ's  minis- 
ters in  Gilmanton  and  the  adjoining  town,  where  the 
happy  effects  of  the  Gospel  were  being  seen  and  felt." 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  23 

It  is  indeed  an  old  story  in  history,  that  the  power- 
ful and  established  party  in  religion,  medicine,  science 
and  politics  becomes  proscriptive  toward  the  new  and 
the  weaker  organizations,  a  fact  which  cannot  be 
ascribed  usually  to  the  erroneousness  of  any  one  form 
of  faith,  so  much  as  to  the  natural  proclivity  of  human 
nature  to  lord  it  over  the  weak  when  put  into  posses- 
sion of  influence  and  power.  Thus  the  persecuted 
parties  turn  persecutors  as  soon  as  they  win  the 
summit  of  command  ;  and  they  who  have  tyrannized 
without  a  scruple,  will  at  last  plead  for  the  sanctity  of 
individual  rights  as  soon  as  they  are  the  subjects  of 
the  same  oppression.  But  even  these  fierce  winds  of 
bigotry  are  able  in  some  degree  to  purify.  The  young 
and  proscribed  sect  gets  humility  and  earnestness.  A 
zeal  and  an  enthusiasm  also  spring  up  that  give  them 
power  over  the  hearts  of  men.  They  grow  noble 
through  their  sacrifices  and  reliance  on  God. 

"  Not  long  after  this  several  of  the  young  people  went 
to  hear  the  Free-wilkrs,  as  they  were  at  that  time  styled. 
I  accompanied  them  to  the  meeting,  which  was  held  in  a 
private  dwelling,  in  a  retired  neighborhood,  and  composed 
apparently  of  poor  people.  I  thought  they  must  be  as 
bad  as  I  had  heard  them  represented.  They  prayed,  they 
wept,  they  exhorted  with  much  fervor  and  pathos,  and 
notwithstanding  I  so  much  hated  their  manners,  something 
reached  my  heart  that  robbed  me  for  the  time  of  all  light- 
ness and  irreverence.  Robinson  Smith  was  the  minister 
who  spoke  at  this  meeting,  a  strong,  healthy  man,  of  unu- 
sually clear  and  commanding  voice.  He  spoke  with 
power.  Some  of  oar  company  returned  in  solemnity  of 
spirit,  whilst  others  derided  the  scene  we  had  witnessed. 


24  MEMOIR    OF 

Shortly  after  this,  among  my  early  reminiscences  of  Gil- 
mantoD,  was  a  weekly  conference,  in  which  various  per- 
sons spoke,  offered  prayers,  and  related  their  experience 
in  things  pertaining  to  religion  —  a  meeting  to  which  I 
was  led  sometimes  from  the  examples  of  others,  some- 
times from  curiosity,  and  sometimes  from  an  inward  desire 
to  possess  what  Christians  said  they  enjoyed.  Thus  was 
my  early  nature  swayed  by  strong  emotions,  sometimes  to 
good  and  sometimes  to  evil." 

These  pages,  quoted  from  a  private  journal,  written 
more  than  thirty  years  ago,  nearly  conclude  all  that 
pertains  to  his  early  life  in  Gilmanton.  I  have  lin- 
gered thus  long  on  these  early  years,  because  every 
man  is  indicated  by  his  earliest  development  —  cer- 
tainly that  part  of  him  which  may  inhere  in  the  natural 
character.  It  is  true  that  man's  latest  period  contains 
all  his  previous  stages,  somewhat  as  the  earth  we  now 
inhabit  contains  the  marks  and  proofs  of  all  its  previous 
states ;  yet,  it  is  not  given  us  to  see  the  historical 
succession  in  man  from  a  glance  at  the  matured  result. 
We  follow  the  steps  of  nature,  in  whose  procedure 
childhood  and  youth  are  not  only  illustrations  of  the 
substantial  genius,  temperament,  and  character,  but 
are  powerful  causes  in  the  performance  of  the  re- 
maining acts  of  life's  drama.  In  these  early  years  of 
Joseph  Badger,  a  strong  emotional  nature  is  exhibited 
—  a  nature  that  could  not  be  inactive  —  one  that  was 
easily  reached  by  earnest  moral  and  rehgious  appeal, 
and  one  that  overflowed  in  a  wild  excess  of  energy 
whenever  the  finer  restraints  of  reverence  were  cast 
aside. 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  25 


CHAPTER   III. 

YOUTU    AND    EDUCATIOX. 

About  this  time,  1801,  Major  Pcaslee  Badger  con- 
templated a  change  in  his  plans  of  life,  the  execution 
of  which  removed  the  subject  of  this  memoir  far  awaj 
from  the  lovely  waters  and  the  romantic  hills  of  his 
native  town  in  New  Hampshire.  It  also  removed  him 
from  the  various  advantages  of  the  better  social  influ- 
ence and  culture  which  belong  to  an  older  form  of 
society ;  but  it  also  rewarded  him  with  the  freedom, 
hardihood,  and  self-reliance  of  forest  life. 

Anxious  to  make  farmers  of  his  sons,  ^lajor  Badger 
resolved  to  further  this  purpose  by  selling  his  farm  in 
Gilmanton,  and  by  making  a  more  extensive  purchase 
in  a  new  country.  At  this  early  time,  when  emigra- 
tion had  not  directed  its  course  to  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  when  the  attractions  of  Iowa  and 
Minnesota  lay  sealed  up  for  a  future  development,  the 
mind  of  Mr.  Badger  was  directed  to  the  fertile  wood- 
land region  of  Lower  Canada,  which  at  that  time  was 
regarded  as  the  best  part  of  the  world.  To  this 
region  he  accordingly  made  a  journey,  was  much  pleased 
with  the  country,  and,  after  selling  his  farm  in  Gil- 
manton, which  he  sold  for  between  four  and  five 
thousand  dollars,  he  again  visited  this  section  of  the 
king's  dominions,  in  company  with  his  eldest  son, 
where  he  purchased  eight  hundred  acres  of  the  best 
of  land.  Only  a  few  families  at  this  time  resided  in 
2 


26  MEMOIR    OF 

the  town.  Leaving  his  son  and  several  hired  men  to 
wage  the  war  of  industrious  labor  on  the  primeval 
wilderness  around  them,  he  returned  home,  and 
recruiting  himself  with  new  forces,  and  taking  with 
him  all  necessary  farming  utensils,  with  several  yoke 
of  oxen,  hastened  to  join  the  company  that  were 
already  at  work  in  turning  the  wilderness  into  a  fruitful 
field.  "When  he  had  arrived  within  eighteen  miles  of 
his  land,  a  wilderness  of  wide  extent  sj^read  out  before 
him.  No  road  was  visible.  Sending  some  of  his  men 
forward  as  surveyors,  and  setting  others  to  work  in 
cutting  a  road  through  the  woods,  he  continued  slowly 
his  progress  ;  and,  finally  receiving  some  assistance 
from  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Stanstead,  and 
augmenting  his'  company  with  the  addition  of  those 
who  had  been  laboring  on  his  farm,  he  went  forward 
with  the  road  with  great  courage  and  success,  building 
several  bridges  across  large  streams,  and  conquering 
every  obstacle  in  the  way  till  an  excellent  road  'was 
completed  through  the  whole  distance  to  his  farm.  It 
has  since  become  a  highway  of  great  travel,  and  is 
known  by  the  name  of  the  Badger  Road  to  this  day. 
This  brave  pioneer  opened  the  way  for  the  settlement 
of  the  town.  Building  a  small  cottage  for  temporary 
convenience,  they  prosecuted  their  work  with  zeal 
for  several  weeks,  when  they  constructed  a  house  for 
permanent  residence,  the  best  that  had,  at  that  time, 
been  built  in  the  town.  These  preparations  being 
made.  Major  Badger  returned  to  convey  his  family  to 
their  new  abode,  in  the  town  of  Compton,  Lower  Can- 
ada, for  which  place  they  set  out  in  February,  1802, 
in  eight  sleighs,  laden  with  provisions  and  furniture, 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  27 

and  after  nineteen  days  of  slow  and  expensive  jour- 
neying, experiencing  the  alternations  of  good  and  evil 
fortune,  they  arrived  on  tlie  4tli  or  5th  of  March  at 
their  new  home  in  the  woods.  Woman  is  ever  the 
natural  conservative,  loving  her  established  and  long- 
tried  home. 

^'  My  mother,"  says  Mr.  B.,  "  was  much  opposed  to  the 
new  arrangement,  which  caused  her  to  leave  her  kind 
friends  and  neighbors ;  but  such  was  her  fortitude  that 
none  discovered  her  feelings.  In  taking  leave  of  our  na- 
tive town  and  near  relatives,  the  greatest  solemnity  filled 
my  heart.  Many  wept  at  our  departure,  and  I  could 
scarcely  bear  up  under  the  grief  I  felt  in  leaving  the 
place  of  my  birth.  As  we  arrived  at  our  new  habitation, 
and  my  mother  viewed  her  lonely  palace,  she  could  no 
longer  suppress  her  feelings,  but  sat  down  and  wept, 
whilst  my  sisters  were  also  sad,  and  murmured  somewhat 
at  the  new  prospect  before  them.  I  wondered  that  my 
father  should  think  of  living  in  the  midst  of  a  forest,  but 
thought  that  what  others  could  accomplish,  wc  could  cer- 
tainly do." 

The  contrast  between  the  cheerful  society  and 
scenery  of  Gilmanton,  and  the  solitude  of  this  wood- 
land region,  which  was  swept  by  colder  winds  than  the 
climate  of  the  east  had  known  ;  the  isolation  of  the 
place,  which  required  a  journey  of  seventy  miles  to 
purchase  the  necessary  grains  for  seed  and  family 
consumption,  were  calculated  to  awaken  a  deep  feehng 
of  loneliness,  and  at  the  same  time  to  invigorate  the 
spirit  -with  new  energy  and  promptings  to  personal 
efiorts.  But  man's  nature  is  flexible,  and  easily  bends 
to  every  variety  of  condition.     As  soon  as  the  news 


28  MEMOIR    OP 

of  their  arrival  had  spread,  nearly  all  the  inhabitants 
of  the  to^vn  came  in  to  greet  them  in  a  friendly  visit ; 
and  soon  spring  unfolded  in  all  its  gayetj  of  woodland 
gem  and  costume,  whilst  all  the  company  became 
laborers  to  the  extent  of  their  respective  abilities. 
Joseph,  now  ten  years  of  age,  who  had  known  nothing 
of  work,  learned  his  first  lessons  in  the  sugar  groves 
of  the  new  farm.  Soon  they  became  contented  with 
their  situation,  and  the  woody  solitudes  gave  cheering 
proofs  of  transition,  as  extended  acres  appeared  to 
view,  ready  to  bear  the  verdure  of  the  meadow,  or  the 
harvests  of  golden  grain.  On  each  side  of  the  Coata- 
cook  river  lay  four  hundred  acres  ;  the  eastern  swell 
was  called  Mount  Pleasant,  the  western.  Mount  Inde- 
pendence. Here,  in  a  few  years,  they  reaped  a  large 
prosperity  from  the  productive  earth.  In  the  journal 
of  Mr.  B.  I  find  a  notice  of  the  total  eclipse  in  1806, 
the  effects  that  followed  it  on  the  agricultural  prospects 
of  that  country,  and  the  melancholy  thoughtfulness 
which  the  day  inspired  in  his  own  mind.  The  effect 
was  great,  according  to  his  statement ;  so  much  so  as 
to  be  sensibly  felt  through  the  seasons.  Fourteen 
acres  carefully  planted  with  fruit-trees  and  grafted 
with  the  best  of  scions,  yielded  nothing  to  reward  the 
toil  of  the  laborer. 

In  the  general  picture  here  presented,  the  reader 
may  see  the  theatre  of  action  occupied  by  the  young 
man  who  was  destined  in  future  years  to  impress  great 
numbers  with  his  own  ideas  and  sentiments.  Doubt- 
less there  are  in  the  world  some  conventional  minds, 
who,  hastily  deciding  all  things  by  local  prejudice  or 
capricious  fashion,  would  hold  it  impossible  for  genius 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER  29 

and  power  to  hail  from  any  but  certain  favored  locali- 
ties ;  from  college  routine,  and  the  aids  of  walls  of 
books  and  of  titled  professors.  But  this  is  not  the 
way  in  which  the  goddess  of  force  and  faculty  distrib- 
utes her  gifts  and  makes  her  highest  elections.  She 
is  by  no  means  afraid  of  mountains  and  woodland  soli- 
tudes ;  nor  does  she  despair  of  winning  her  ends  when 
professors  and  colleges  do  not  wait  upon  her  bidding. 
She  exults  rather  in  natural  productions  ;  being  able 
to  turn  the  night-stars,  heaven's  winds,  earth's  flowers, 
and  even  common  events,  into  teachers  ;  and  the  same 
of  all  experience  and  inward  faculty.  She  brings  a 
universal  power  from  Stratford  to  London,  from  Ayre- 
shire  to  Edinburgh,  from  Vosges  and  Domremi  to 
Orleans  and  to  Rhcims.  All  great  men  are  educated. 
The  only  variance  resides  in  the  modes  and  teachers. 
We  like  it  that  a  prophet  should,  in  early  life,  hail 
from  the  woodland  world,  and  that  the  vastness  and 
tranquillity  of  landscapes  should  reside  in  his  public 
discourse  ;  that  his  words  and  manners  should  savor, 
not  of  dry  scholastic  pretension  and  mannerism,  but 
of  songsters'  voices,  of  colossal  trees,  wild  rose  and 
rushing  brooks.  Mr.  B.,  however,  for  his  time  and 
day,  was  an  educated  man ;  we  mean  even  in  the 
more  restricted  sense  in  which  the  world  understands 
this  word  ;  and  certainly  he  was  this,  in  its  most  im- 
portant meanings. 

"  We  soon  had  opportunity."  says  Mr.  Badger,  "  for 
education  in  our  new  country.  This  was  very  pleasing 
to  me,  and  I  felt  the  necessity  of  improving  every 
privilege  of  the  kind."  And  I  would  say  that  those 
who  knew  him  in  after  life  could  not  but  see  in  him  the 


30  MEMOIR    OP 

rare  faculty  bestowed  on  some  of  our  race,  tliat  of 
turning  a  few  means  to  a  great  account. 

Passing  on  to  his  fifteenth  year,  he  speaks  of  a 
season  of  illness,  occasioned  by  excessive  ambition  at 
manual  labor,  which  kept  him  from  school  a  part  of  the 
time  during  one  summer.  "My  sickness,"  te  says, 
"  was  of  pleuritic  nature,  and  at  times  my  life  was 
despaired  of.  A  few  Christian  people  had  moved  into 
the  place,  and  during  my  sickness,  some  of  them  con- 
versed with  me  on  the  subject  of  religion.  At  times 
I  remember  to  have  wept,  and  supposed  that  my  con- 
dition was  deplorable.  The  death  of  a  Christian  woman, 
who  had  often  conversed  with  me,  occurring  at  this 
time,  made  a  deep  impression  on  my  mind.  My  reflec- 
tions, when  alone,  were  melancholy  in  the  extreme.  I 
often  wished  I  had  died  when  young  ;  and  frequently 
did  I  promise  God  that  if  my  life  was  spared  I  would 
serve  Him."  Many  paragraphs  of  this  sort,  whilst 
they  may  wear  a  tinge  of  the  religious  culture  common 
to  the  age,  show  deep  and  unharmonized  strivings  of 
soul.  To  those  who  knew  his  great  vivacity,  the  fact 
of  melancholy,  which  he  records  in  the  journal  of  his 
youth,  may  seem  strange  ;  but  it  is  natural.  In  sus- 
ceptible and  thoughtful  natures,  in  natures  of  deep 
strivings,  there  is  ever  a  stratum  of  seriousness,  wear- 
ing at  times  the  tinge  of  sadness.  The  soul,  in  such, 
will  often  say,  "  I  am  in  Time  an  exile.  The  earth 
cannot  feed  me  ;  "  and  especially  will  this  feeling  be 
active  in  the  early  experience,  before  the  wisdom  of 
years  has  given  stability  to  life,  to  its  aims  and 
emotions. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  31 

But  a  young  man  like  liim  could  not  be  otlicrwise 
than  fond  of  amusement.  With  young  company  of  his 
age  he  frequently  met,  and  was  accustomed  to  spend 
considerable  of  the  time  when  together  in  the  favorite 
pastime  of  the  young  —  the  dance. 

His  elder  brothers  settling  for  themselves  in  life, 
threw  an  increased  burden  of  care  upon  Joseph, 
whose  health  was  so  far  restored  as  to  act  his  part 
efficiently.  His  father  about  this  time  entered  into 
the  mercantile  business,  which  turned  out  to  his  dis- 
advantage ;  and  soon  after  this,  when  seven  miles 
from  home,  he  had  the  misfortune  to  break  his  leg, 
suffering  extremely  for  fifteen  days,  expecting  con- 
stantly that  amputation  would  have  to  take  place. 
Recovering  so  far  as  to  admit  of  removal  home, 
after  a  long  time  he  was  restored  to  health.  "  After 
this,"  says  his  son,  "  he  twice  met  the  severe  misfor- 
tune to  break  his  leg,  and  on  the  5th  Sept.,  1814,  it 
was  amputated  six  inches  above  the  knee.  This  and 
several  such  misfortunes,  in  part,  reduced  him  from 
the  high  station  in  which  he  was  born  and  had  for- 
merly hved." 

"  The  first  preaching  that  we  heard  was  by  an  old  gen- 
tleman of  the  name  of  Huntington.  He  was  aUniversal- 
ist,  a  good  man,  I  think,  but  not  a  great  preacher.  He 
addressed  the  people  for  the  greater  part  of  one  summer 
generally  at  my  father's  house.  I  do  not  remember  to 
have  seen  anything  like  reform  among  the  people.  The 
old  gentleman  died  in  a  few  years,  and  I  trust  has  gone  to 
rest.     Also  Elders*  Robinson  Smith  and  A.  Moulton,  of 

*  This  title  was  then  very  commonly  given  to  all  Baptist  ministers. 
For  some  years,  however,  it  has  been  gradually  growing  obsolete. 


32  MEMOIR   OF 

Hatlej,  a  neighboring  town,  favored  us  with  their  minis- 
try. We  called  them  Free-willers,  but  their  preaching 
was  life-awakening,  and  it  was  held  in  remembrance  long 
after  they  were  gone,  although  they  saw  no  immediate 
fruits  of  their  labors.  I  recollect  of  hearing  Mr.  Moulton 
once,  the  first  time  I  think  I  ever  saw  him.  His  voice  to 
me  was  like  thunder.  For  several  days  after,  it  seemed 
as  though  I  could  hear  the  sound  of  it." 

This  indeed  is  the  proof  of  God's  presence  in  the 
mission,  that  the  minister  has  that  to  say  which  the 
sinner  cannot  forget,  that  which  lingers  in  his  way  like 
an  invisible  spell.  The  man  who  has  God's  word  is 
not  a  mere  lecturer  or  essayist  in  the  holy  temple. 
He  has  words  of  divine  fire  to  speak,  an  undying  love 
to  utter,  a  warning  of  eternity  to  hold  forth.  He 
commands  the  giddy  and  the  sinful  to  listen  to  a  voice 
which,  if  he  repent  not,  will  tingle  in  his  ears  even  to 
his  dying  day.  Smooth,  elegant  composition  may  be 
patiently  taught,  and  patiently  learned,  but  God's 
living  word  out  of  heaven  to  unfaithful  man,  is  another 
thing.  This  word  has  many  organs,  finds  its  way  far 
and  near,  and  reaches  the  heart  of  the  ardent  young 
man  whose  footsteps  are  on  the  classic  ground,  or  in 
the  larger  path  of  nature's  wild. 

"  When  about  sixteen  or  seventeen,"  continues  the  jour- 
nal, "  I  heard  that  a  young  man  about  my  age  from  Ver- 
mont would  preach  in  our  vicinity.  There  was  a  great 
move  to  hear  him,  and  I  resolved  to  go.  The  house  was 
full.  He  ^yas  evidently  one  much  engaged  in  God's  work. 
He  looked  very  pale  and  much  worn  out.  Mr.  Moulton 
was  with  him,  prayed  at  the  beginning  of  the  meeting,  after 


REV.    JOSErn    BADGER.  33 

wliicli  the  young  man,  Benjamin  Putnam,  came  forward, 
and  in  a  manner  and  address  that  'svere  engaging,  and  to 
me  pecuharly  pleasing,  preached  a  sermon  from  Isaiah  22  : 
22  ;  a  text  which  I  shall  never  forget.  'And  the  key  of 
the  house  of  David  will  I  lay  upon  his  shoulder :  so  he 
shall  open,  and  none  shall  shut ;  and  he  shall  shut,  and 
none  shall  open.'  lie  described  Christ  as  the  Son  of  God, 
and  the  power  as  being  laid  upon  his  shoulder ;  he  also 
dwelt  on  what  he  had  opened  both  to  and  for  man,  which 
none  could  shut,  and  finally  spoke  of  the  closing  of  the 
same  door,  which  none  should  be  able  to  open.  I  thought 
this  discourse  more  glorious  than  anything  I  had  ever 
heard.  I  thought  him  the  happiest  young  man  I  ever 
saw.  As  soon  as  meeting  was  closed  he  came  forward 
through  the  assembly  and  spoke  to  my  brother,  which 
had  a  solemn  effect  on  us  both.  Many  of  his  expres- 
sions I  have  ever  remembered. 

"  The  Methodist  ministers  next  made  their  way  into  our 
town,  and  I  have  always  thought  that  they  came  in  the 
name  and  spirit  of  the  I^ghest.  They  were  humble  and 
earnest.  As  my  father's  family  seldom  attended  their 
meetings,  I  perhaps  did  not  become  acquainted  with  the 
first  that  came.  Hays  and  Briggs  were  the  first  I  heard. 
While  listening  to  the  farewell  sermon  of  the  former  I  re- 
member to  have  been  deeply  affected,  and  one  evening, 
while  listening  to  Mr.  Briggs,  I  felt  a  strong  conviction  of 
my  sin,  and  believed  that  I  was  undone  without  regenera- 
tion. They  first  formed  a  small  class  in  town.  Leaving 
the  circuit  the  next  year,  Joseph  Dennet  and  David  Blan- 
chard  were  their  successors,  under  wdiose  ministry  many  of 
the  old  and  the  young  were  turned  to  God,  whilst  even 
children  were  made  happy  in  Christ.  I  think  that  the 
preaching  of  the  latter  was  the  first  that  ever  brought 
tears  from  my  eyes.  Also,  in  those  days,  we  had  frequent 
2* 


34  MEMOIR    OF 

visits  from  the  missionaries,  but  I  do  not  remember  that 
their  preaching  had  much  effect  on  my  own  mind  or  that 
of  any  other  person. 

"In  the  conflict  of  good  and  evil  tendencies  in  the 
minds  of  young  men  who  share  largely  of  the  passions 
and  giddiness  which  characterize  the  period  of  one's 
youth,  it  is  interesting  to  contemplate  the  skill  with  which 
these  influences  assail  each  other,  each  winning  its  tempo- 
rary victory,  and  each  wrestling  at  times  with  great  might 
for  the  doubtful  mastery.  Notwithstanding  these  solemn 
emotions  to  good,  I  was  quite  wild  and  had  several  bad 
habits.  In  hearing  Mr.  H.  preach  the  summer  I  was 
eighteen,  I  was  much  aroused  to  a  sense  of  duty,  and 
though  seeing  the  way  of  my  life  to  be  death,  my  deter- 
minations as  yet  were  not  equal  to  the  chain  of  habit  that 
bound  me.  On  the  first  of  August  I  looked  forward  to 
the  16th,  which  was  my  birthday,  as  the  day  in  which  I 
should  begin  to  walk  in  newness  of  Jife,  and  for  several 
days  this  occupied  my  thoughts.  But  the  time  passed,  and 
my  resolution  with  it,  whilst  my  feelings  reacted  more 
strongly  than  ever  toward  my  former  ways.  The  Spirit  of 
God  righteously  strives  with  sinners  ;  and  many  have  I 
seen  on  languishing  beds  lamenting  their  early  resistance 
to  the  holy  influence,  and  that  they  had  ever  broken  their 
promise  to  Him.  I  had  a  taste  for  reading,  and  spent 
much  of  my  time  in  the  perusal  of  novels  and  with  vain 
young  company.  A  young  man  by  the  name  of  Richard- 
son was  my  most  intimate  friend.  On  the  Sabbath  and 
every  other  opportunity  we  were  together ;  we  spent  the 
time  mostly  in  reading ;  I  thought  I  enjoyed  happiness  in 
his  society.  In  our  assemblies  for  diversion  we  ever  had 
a  good  understanding.  His  friendship  lasted  until  my 
conversion,  when  something  far  more  glorious  opened  to 
my  view.     It  appeared  a  great  mystery  to  him,  and  it 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  35 

caused  me  much  sorrow  to  leave  liira,  but  the  first  lesson 
I  learned  from  the  cross  taught  me  how  to  relinquish  and 
how  to  renounce. 

*'  In  the  autumn  of  1810  we  had  many  vain  assemblies 
for  dancing  and  other  recreations.  Never  had  I  before 
gone  so  far  in  wickedness  as  at  this  time.  But,  in  the 
midst  of  our  gayety,  events  of  Providence  compelled  our 
thoughts  to  serious  objects,  as  death,  through  the  agency 
of  a  fatal  fever,  spread  over  the  town  its  sorrow  and  sad- 
ness, cutting  off  the  old  and  the  young  indiscriminately. 
On  the  10th  of  January,  1811,  I  commenced  a  journey  to 
New  Hampshire,  to  visit  my  friends,  whom  I  had  not  seen 
since  1802.  When  I  arrived  at  Stanstead,  I  passed  sev- 
eral days  with  a  cousin  of  mine  who  was  engaged  in  teach- 
ing the  art  of  dancing.  He  was  an  agreeable  gentleman, 
and  of  great  talents  ;  but  it  was  a  grief  to  his  friends 
that  he  had  taken  to  this  employment.  I  was  much- 
pleased  with  the  instructions  he  gave  me,  as  I  was  anxious 
to  attain  perfection  in  the  art. 

"  With  several  young  men  I  proceeded  on  my  way  to 
New  Hampshire,  and  making  the  journey  merry  with  rude- 
ness and  laughter,  we  prosecuted  it  till  I  arrived  at  Gil- 
manton.  Here  I  found  that  my  honored  grandsire  no 
longer  occupied  his  place  on  earth.  His  companion,  who 
had  watched  over  my  childhood  for  two  years,  and  had 
made  the  voice  of  prayer  familiar  to  my  lips,  still  survived. 
Several  other  relatives  had  also  gone  to  their  long  home, 
and  though  tliese  things  made  little  impression  on  my 
heart,  owing  to  the  state  of  my  mind,  I  could  not  but 
solemnly  reflect  on  the  hand  that  had  so  long  upheld  me, 
whjen  I  visited  my  early  home,  the  place  of  my  birth,  and 
recalled  the  many  scenes  of  my  childhood  freshly  to  mind. 
We  have  in  life  but  one  childhood,  and  no  hours  of  retro- 
spect put  us  into  such  unison  with  nature  as  when  we  live 
it  over  in  the  revival  of  its  scenes. 


36  MEMOIR    OF 

"  I  passed  several  weeks  in  Gilmanton,  attending  school 
a  part  of  the  time,  and  freely  enjoyed  the  company  of  my 
young  friends.  My  sister  Mary,  the  wife  of  General  Cogs- 
well, occasionally  rebuked  me  for  my  lightness,  and  though 
I  made  light  of  her  admonitions  at  the  time,  they  made 
much  impression  on  my  mind.  But  most  of  all  I  dreaded 
that  my  uncle,  Mr.  Smith,  who  had  been  the  minister  of 
the  place  for  thirty  years,  should  talk  to  me  about  religion. 
T  was  very  loth  to  visit  him  at  all,  but  I  stayed  with  him 
the  last  night  I  remained  in  town,  and  to  my  happy  dis- 
appointment escaped  the  drilling  I  had  so  much  feared,  as  he 
did  not  once  mention  the  subject.  In  company  with  my 
cousin,  Joseph  Smith,  I  set  out  the  next  day  for  home, 
and  by  evening  arrived  at  Judge  William  Badger's,  a 
cousin  of  mine,  with  whom  we  had  an  excellent  visit. 
The  next  day,  when  passing  through  Meredith,  we  saw  a 
young  man  standing  in  the  door  of  a  house  with  a  multi- 
tude around  him.  The  building  appeared  to  be  full  of 
people,  to  whom  he  was  preaching.  We  arrived  that 
evening  at  Camptown,  and  though  I  was  nearly  sick  and 
my  spirits  depressed  by  some  influence  I  could  not  define, 
and  my  mind  uninterested  by  surrounding  objects,  I  yielded 
to  the  persuasion  of  my  cousin  to  go  on.  Nothing  was 
able  to  interest  me.  After  some  time  we  started  for  the 
place  since  so  much  celebrated,  the  Notch  of  the  White 
Mountains. 

"  But  nature,  which  to  me  was  ever  welcome,  did  not 
attract  me  as  usual.  A  spirit,  over  which  I  had  not  con- 
trol, seemed  to  work  within  me  to  the  extreme  of  solemn 
conviction.  People,  road,  trees,  rivers  — all  seemed  gloomy, 
and  I  appeared  to  myself  as  a  monument  spared  to  uijite 
with  them  in  mourning.  We  finally  passed  the  gloomy 
Notch,  and  as  I  drank  in  its  lonely  influence,  I  felt,  un- 
aroidably,  its  likeness  to  the  mood  of  my  own  spirit.    At 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  87 

Franconia,  many  new  prospects  and  objects  appeared  to 
view.  The  manufactorj  of  iron  was  at  that  time  and 
there  a  great  curiosity.  At  Littleton,  further  on  in  our 
journey,  we  rode  on  the  river,  as  it  was  hardly  frozen.  I 
disguised  my  feelings,  and  as  we  were  riding  along,  several 
in  number,  I  fell  in  the  rear  that  I  might  enjoy  the  medi- 
tations in  which  my  mind  was  absorbed.  At  this  time,  an 
old  gentleman,  whose  silver  locks  and  grave  appearance  at- 
tracted my  attention,  appeared  near  me,  coming  from  his 
house  to  the  river  to  draw  water.  My  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  him.  *  How  far,'  said  he,  '  is  your  company  journey- 
ing?' To  the  province  of  Lower  Canada,  I  answered. 
i  Do  you  live  there  ?  '  said  he.  I  answered  that  I  did. 
Then  in  a  solemn  tone  the  old  patriarch  inquired,  'Is  there 
any  religion  in  that  part  of  the  world  ? '  I  was  surprised 
to  hear  this  subject  introduced  by  a  stranger.  I  told  him 
there  were  some  in  our  country  who  professed  religion. 
He  then  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears,  and  exhorted  me  with 
a  warm-hearted  pathos  to  seek  salvation,  and,  though  I 
disclosed  none  of  my  feelings  to  him,  I  was  most  deeply 
moved,  and  the  image  of  the  venerable  old  man  was  con- 
tinually before  my  eyes  through  the  day.  I  could  scarcely 
refrain  from  weeping ;  and  whatever  others  may  think  of 
such  apparently  accidental  events,  I  am  free  to  confess? 
that  from  that  time  until  now,  I  have  firmly  believed  that 
this  old  gentleman  was  a  God-sent  prophet  unto  me.  The 
impressions  he  made  continued  till  I  enjoyed  the  sweet 
religion  that  inspired  his  look  and  his  voice.  I  have  often 
wished  that  I  might  see  him  and  humble  myself  in 
thankfulness  before  him,  a  thing  not  to  be  expected  in  this 
life. 

"  When  we  arrived  at  Stewardstown,  near  the  head  of 
the  Connecticut  river,  I  parted  with  my  cousin,  whose  des- 
tination was  different  from  my  own.     Crossing  the  line, 


38  MEMOIR    OF 

I  passed  the  night  with  Dr.  Ladd,  a  friend  of  mj  father, 
who  was  a  Christian  and  a  man  of  extended  knowl- 
edge. I  treasured  up  many  of  his  observations.  I  was 
then  only  twenty  miles  from  home,  and  heard  the  sad  news 
of  the  ravages  sickness  had  made  daring  my  absence, 
which  greatly  disturbed  me  with  the  thought  that  I  should 
never  again  see  all  my  friends.  On  the  lOth  of  March, 
however,  I  arrived,  and  though  fearful  to  inquire  for  my 
relatives,  found,  to  my  joy,  that  they  were  all  well.  In 
company  I  sought  to  be  cheerful,  but  in  solitude  the  keen- 
est sensations  of  sadness  were  active. 

"  Having  business  with  my  cousin  at  Stanstead,  I  made 
him  a  visit,  where  I  heard  a  missionary  preach  and  at- 
tended as  a  pall-bearer  at  a  funeral,  to  which  my  feelings 
were  much  averse.  On  my  return,  when  I  had  proceeded 
as  far  as  Barnston,  for  some  cause  I  returned  a  mile  and 
a  half,  and  taking  a  lantern  started  on  foot  through  the 
woods,  when  suddenly  a  storm  exliibited  its  signs  of  dark 
and  angry  violence.  When  about  half  through  the  forest, 
the  winds,  thunder  and  lightning  were  terrific.  The  rain 
fell  in  torrents,  my  light  was  soon  extinguished,  and 
nothing  was  left  to  guide  me  through  the  swamp  except  the 
lurid  flashes  of  the  lightning  that  made  the  gloom  more 
terrible.  Several  trees  were  struck  and  fell  near  me  across 
the  road ;  some  branches  fell  from  the  tree  I  had  chosen 
for  my  shelter,  as  the  tempest  mingled  with  darkness, 
raged  in  madness;  and  never  Avas  I  so  deeply  impressed 
with  the  might  of  Him  who  rules  the  world  and  sways 
the  elements.  Here  I  gained  a  fresh  idea  of  the  awful 
power  and  mercy  of  God.  I  was  nearly  induced  to  kneel 
upon  the  earth,  and  there,  in  the  storm,  make  a  covenant 
with  my  Maker. 

"  At  length  the  storm  ceased  and  I  arrived  in  safety  at 
the  house  of  a  friend.     The  next  day  I  reached  home,  and 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  39 

though  met  by  cheerful  faces,  through  the  state  of  my 
mind,  the  music  of  their  tones  were  as  mournful  sounds. 
The  company  in  which  I  had  found  delight,  could  no 
longer  entertain  me  ;  my  home  was  dressed  in  mourning, 
my  pillow  wet  with  tears,  and  the  bright  prospects  which 
had  cheered  me  had  vanished  from  my  sky.  I  had  no 
heart  for  business,  no  relish  for  pleasure.  O  how  tire- 
some was  every  place  !  I  read  the  Bible  in  private  ;  often 
left  my  father's  table  in  tears ;  often  retired  to  the  grove 
whose  trees,  more  than  those  around  me,  seemed  to  know 
my  heart,  that  I  might  relieve  my  soul  in  weeping.  None 
knew  the  cause  of  this  love  of  solitariness.  Some  said  '  he 
suffers  the  influence  of  disappointment;'  others,  that  *  he 
is  plotting  something  for  advantage  : '  none  supposed  that 
within  me  a  deep  striving  was  separating  me  from  the 
world  and  leading  me  to  the  Fountain  af  Salvation.  This 
period  was  a  severe  trial.  Every  power,  it  would  seem, 
combined  to  test  my  spirit.  Sometimes,  from  the  conflict 
within,  whilst  darkness  held  its  temporary  victory,  I  was 
almost  tempted  to  be  angry  with  the  Powers  above,  and 
with  tlie  whole  creation  ;  and  once,  I  remember  to  have 
so  far  fallen  under  the  evil  power,  as  to  swear  at  the  ex- 
isting order  of  things.  It  was  continual  trouble.  I 
strove  to  labor  what  I  could,  and  to  fulfil  my  station 
in  the  family,  using  all  the  fortitude  I  could  command. 
Here  many  things  occurred  that  I  shall  not  particularize ; 
some  things  between  my  father  and  myself,  which  I  once 
thought  I  should  mention  in  every  respect,  but  which  the 
delicacy  of  the  subject  and  the  tenderness  of  our  relation 
prevent.  I  can  only  say  that  my  father  was  of  deistical 
opinions,  and  at  that  time  did  not  possess  the  degree  of 
friendship  and  tenderness  for  the  cause  of  religion  which 
I  could  have  wished  him  to,  and  which  he  indeed  possessed 
some  months  after. 


40  MEMOIR    OF 

^'  At  times,  everything  seemed  to  unite  in  tormenting 
me,  in  causing  me  trouble ;  again,  all  things  in  nature, 
when  my  clouds  were  partially  dispersed,  had  a  voice  for 
the  Creator's  praise.  I  alone  was  untuned.  The  very 
winds,  as  they  passed,  spoke  of  His  power.  The  stars, 
ever  calm,  looked  down  in  love,  seeming  faithfully  to  per- 
form the  will  of  their  Ordainer ;  and  the  flowers  of  the 
earth,  which  bloomed  in  beauty,  sending  forth  their  fra- 
grance to  His  honor;  and  the  songs  of  birds,  whose  notes 
were  full  of  the  primeval  innocence,  all  combined  to  ad- 
minister reproof  The  following  lines  would  then  have 
spoken  my  feelings,  as  the  full-blown  spring-time  lay  un- 
folded around  me  : 

•' '  Ye  warblers  of  the  vernal  shade 
Whose  artless  music  charms  ray  ear, 
Your  loveliness  my  heart  upbraids — 
My  languid  heart,  how  insincere  ! 
While  all  your  little  powers  collected,  raise 
A  tribute  to  your  great  Creator's  praise. 

«' '  Ye  lovely  offsprings  of  the  ground. 
Flowers  of  a  thousand  beauteous  dyes, 
You  spread  your  Maker's  glory  round, 
And  breathe  your  odor  to  the  skies  : 
Unsullied  you  display  your  lively  bloom, 
Unmingled  you  present  your  sweet  perfume. 

"  *  Ye  winds  that  waft  the  fragrant  spring, 
You,  whispering,  spread  His  name  abroad, 
Or  shake  the  air  with  sounding  wing, 
And  speak  the  awful  power  of  God  : 
His  will,  with  swift  obedience,  you  perform, 
Or  in  the  gentle  gale  or  dreadful  storm. 

*'  '  Ye  radiant  orbs  that  guide  the  day 
Or  deck  the  sable  veil  of  night. 
His  wondrous  glory  you  display. 
Whose  hand  imparts  your  useful  light: 
Your  constant  task,  unwearied,  you  pursue. 
Nor  deviate  from  the  path  your  Maker  drew. 


REV.    JOSEPPI    BADGER.  41 

"  '  0  Lord  !    thy  grace  my  languid  heart  can  raise, 

These  dissipated  powers  unite, 

Can  bid  me  pay  my  debt  of  praise 

With  love  sincere  and  true  delight : 
Oh  !  let  thy  power  inspire  my  heart  and  tongue, 
Then  will  I,  grateful,  join  Creation's  song.' 

"  Leaving  company  almost  entirely,  and  not  going  into 
society  except  on  certain  occasions,  to  please  my  friends  or 
escape  reproach,  I  gave  myself  up  to  solitary  meditation 
and  to  the  inward  and  undefined  strivings  of  my  being. 
In  this  state  of  spiritual  disquietude,  I  felt  no  impulse  to 
attend  a  church.  I  was  most  at  home  when  alone.  I 
heard  divine  voices  where  there  was  no  man  to  act  as 
medium  or  interpreter.  At  a  funeral,  I  recollect  having 
assisted  in  singing,  and  to  have  heard  from  Elder  Moul- 
ton  a  sermon  that  impressed  me,  he  being  a  man  of 
considerable  spiritual  power,  and  one  for  whom  I  had 
particular  respect.  I  heard  him  also  a  second  lime  after 
this,  when  he  most  deeply  affected  my  mind.  I  some- 
times repaired  to  the  forest  for  the  express  purpose  of 
coming  to  God  in  prayer,  but  for  some  time  was  restrained 
from  speaking  aloud  or  kneeling  on  the  earth.  My  heart 
was  often  eased  in  weeping  ;  and  though  I  had  no  form 
of  prayer,  I  believe  I  prayed  as  really,  as  acceptably,  as 
ever  I  did.  Is  it  not  a  strange  doctrine,  so  generally 
promulgated,  that  sinners,  previous  to  conversion,  ought 
not  to  pray  ?  To  me  it  is  a  dark  doctrine.  The  Scrip- 
tures do  not  intimate  it.  My  experience,  the  divine 
command,  and  common  sense  oppose  the  dogma.  The 
fact  that  men  are  morally  weak  and  sinful,  is  itself  a 
sufficient  occasion  for  prayer. 

"  One  Sunday,  without  the  knowledge  of  our  family,  I 
went  about  two  miles  to  attend  a  Methodist  meeting,  in 
which  several  spoke,  and  spoke  well.  Mrs.  John  Gilson, 
a  little,  delicate  woman,  with  much  diffidence  arose  to 


42  MEMOIR    OF 

speak.  Her  wisdom  and  manner  won  my  heart,  and  her 
message,  which  was  particularly  to  me,  seemed  to  carry 
the  evidence  that  it  was  from  God.  I  could  never  forget 
it.  I  knew  she  was  my  friend,  and  believed  that  she 
spoke  for  my  good,  and  I  would  have  rendered  her 
my  thanks  at  the  close,  but  for  the  restraining  power  of  a 
sentiment  common  to  me,  which  was,  an  unwillingness  to 
disclose  to  any  one  my  deepest  emotions.  We  had  been 
taught  by  some,  that  before  we  could  attain  salvation,  we 
should  be  willing  to  be  damned  and  lost.  I  never  had 
this  willingness.  But,  in  candor,  I  must  say  that  my 
sense  of  guilt  was  so  deep  that  I  felt  I  had  merited  the 
sentence  to  be  finally  uttered  against  the  impenitent." 

The  reader  will  perceive  that  the  thread  of  this 
journal  is  drawn  from  such  portions  of  Mr.  Badger's 
early  life  as  seem  most  directly  to  express  its  various 
moral  phases.  From  other  points  of  experience,  it  is 
natural  to  suppose,  much  was  omitted,  the  main  pur- 
pose being  that  of  tracing  the  moral  history  of  his 
mind  through  the  years  of  his  youth.  I  think  I  never 
opened  a  journal  that  contained  throughout  a  plainer 
natural  impress  of  truth  and  reality. 


KEV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  43 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CONVERSION. 

"  Rppent  ye  therefore  and  be  converted,  that  your  sins  may  be 
blotted  out." — St.  Petek. 

*       .    . 

To  every  work  there  is  a  crisis  which  openly  exhibits 
success  or  faihire.  To  every  growth  there  are  certain 
perceptible  changes  by  which  we  note  the  progress 
from  incipiency  to  the  mature  state.  There  is  a  sym- 
bolical new  birth  in  nature  when  the  rose-tree  blooms, 
when  leafless  wintry  trees  are  green  with  foliage  and 
white  with  blossoms.  Summer  is  a  regeneration  in  the 
state  of  the  earth,  and  it  is  none  the  less  so  because 
we  cannot  point  out  the  moment,  hour,  or  day,  in  which 
the  actual  summer  assumed  its  effective  reign.  None 
fail  to  see  the  difference  between  June  and  January. 
If  in  July  you  meet  the  bending  lilac,  it  silently  tells 
you  of  all  that  March,  April,  May  and  June  have  done 
for  it.  So  man's  moral  periods  are  marked.  The 
soul  in  its  struggles  after  divine  life,  through  penitence 
and  faith,  reaches  a  crisis  of  victory  and  development 
of  holy  purpose,  principle  and  power,  which  the  church 
has  generally  agreed  to  call  conversion,  and  for  which 
we  know  no  better  name. 

The  journal  of  Mr.  Badger,  which  refers  to  this 
epoch  of  his  spiritual  history,  is  headed  with  a  poem 
on  Christ,  of  which  we  have  space  for  only  a  few 
lines : 


44  MEMOIR    OF 

"  Oh  !  glorious  Father,  let  ray  soul  pursue 
The  wondrous  labyrinth  of  love  divine, 
And  follow  my  Redeemer  to  the  cross. 
Nailed  to  the  cross  —  his  hands,  his  feet,  all  torn 
"With  agonizing  torture! 
Stupendous  sacrifice  !     Mysterious  love  ! 
He  died  !     The  Lord  of  life  —  the  Saviour  died  ! 
All  nature  sympathizins;,  felt  the  shock. 
The  sun  his  beams  withdrew,  and  wrapt  his  face 
In  sable  clouds  and  midnight's  deepest  shade, 
<flro  mourn  the  absence  of  a  brighter  sun  — 
The  Sun  of  righteousness  eclipsed  in  death! 
A  short  eclipse.     For  soon  he  rose  again, 
All  glorious,  to  resume  his  native  skies! 
Oh,  love  beyond  conception  ! 
In  silent  rapture  all  ray  powers  adore." 

In  the  religious  experience  of  Joseph  Badger,  as 
intimated  by  this  poem,  Christ  with  him  is  always  the 
central  sun,  the  presiding  power. 

"  I  do  not  think,"  says  Mr.  B.,  "that  persons  can  tell 
their  religious  experience,  if  their  change  is  real  and  they 
have  fully  felt  the  effects  of  love  divine.  They  are  led  to 
say  with  St.  Peter,  that  it  is  'joy  unspeakable  and  full  of 
glory.'  Human  language  cannot  describe  the  fulness  and 
sweetness  of  the  religion  of  Christ.  Viewing  the  invisi- 
ble depth  of  its  wealth,  how  faint  are  our  descriptions? 
How  weak  our  best  comparisons,  and  the  metaphors  by 
which  we  attempt  to  represent  it !  The  soul  which  has 
become  a  partaker  of  the  divine  nature,  of  its  love,  is  ever 
ready  to  exclaim  — '  The  half  had  never  been  told  me  ;  ' 
yet  words,  and  other  imperfect  signs,  will  easily  indicate 
the  presence  of  the  reality  enjoyed. 

"  Eighteen  hundred  and  eleven  !  that  memorable  year 
will  never  be  forgotten  by  thousands  now  living,  on  ac- 
count of  the  victorious  spread  of  the  Gospel  in  North 
America.     Generations  yet  unborn  will  trace  the  pages 


REV.   JOSErn    BADGER.  45 

of  ecclesiastical  history  with  anxiety  and  delight,  to  learn 
what  transpired  among  their  ancestors  during  this  year. 
But  how  soon,  when  a  heavenly  influence  is  in  t^  ascend- 
ant, some  counteracting  power  will  enter  the  field  with 
ruinous  violence !  The  cruel  war  soon  succeeded,  and 
devastation  spread  her  vermilion  garb  over  our  happy 
and  enlightened  land. 

"As  I  have  already  alluded,  in  a  former  chapter,  to  the 
feelings  of  moral  conviction  that  wrought  in  my  breast,  I 
will  only  say  that  they  began  with  this  year,  and  were  of 
a  kind  neither  to  be  drowned  nor  driven  away.  Not  for 
Adam's  sins,  or  the  sins  of  our  fathers,  did  I  feel  con- 
demned ;  it  was  only  for  such  as  belonged  to  me.  Light 
had  come  and  I  had  chosen  darkness.  I  therefore  cast  no 
reflections  on  any  class  of  persons,  as  the  Gospel,  con- 
science, and  the  creation,  seemed  to  unite  in  proclaiming  — 
'  Thou  art  the  man ; '  and  under  a  sense  of  my  ingrati- 
tude to  Jesus,  the  sinner's  Friend,  I  felt  to  add  my  hearty 
Amen,  and  say,  '  Father,  I  have  sinned  against  heaven, 
and  in  thy  sight,  and  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called  thy 


In  the  pride  of  philosophical  speculation,  there  are 
knowing  ones  who  rob  the  rich  idea  of  God  of  person- 
ality ;  also,  in  the  attempts  to  deify  the  sacred  parch- 
ments of  Palestine,  others  unwittingly  superannuate  the 
Holy  Ghost,  driving  us  all  to  live  solely  upon  ancient 
■words  —  words  that  were  undoubtedly  its  breathings 
when  spoken.  But  one  page  from  the  journal  of  such 
an  experience  as  that  of  Mr.  Badger  is  better  than 
all  learned  theory.  Every  page  referring  to  his  mind's 
exercise  abounds  in  feeling  —  earnest,  real  feeling. 
He  believes  in  the  God  of  action,  who  converts  the 


46  MEMOIR    OF 

repentant  soul  by  his  holj,  actual  agency  ;  in  Jesus  he 
believes  as  the  lone  sinner's  Friend  and  Saviour ;  in 
the  Holy  Spirit  he  confides,  not  doubting  its  real  stri- 
ving in  his  own  heart ;  in  the  oracles  of  prophets,  of 
Jesus,  and  of  the  apostles,  he  holds  unwavering  faith 
that  they  arc  God's  real,  eternal  word ;  whilst  his  fre- 
quent and  many  tears  in  private  attest  his  deep  sincer- 
ity in  seeking  his  soul's  salvation.  He  recognizes  the 
supernatural,  the  miraculous,  in  the  conversion  of  the 
sinner ;  and  whatever  we  may  concede  to  the  rational- 
istic statement  on  this  subject  in  our  severely  philosoph- 
ical moods,  it  is  certain  that  the  miraculous  statement 
is  the  one  which  more  than  it  concentrates  the  diviner 
charm  and  the  more  commanding  energy.  It  has  ever 
been  so  ;  the  statement  wearing  the  outward  miraculous 
hue,  is  the  strong  one —  the  one  that  holds  the  clement 
of  triumph  ;  and  though  we  do  not  hold  that  any  -work 
of  God  with  man  violates  the  constitution  and  laws  of 
the  human  mind,  it  would  have  struck  us  with  dimin- 
ished effect  had  St.  Paul,  before  Agri2:)pa,  discoursed 
on  the  accordance  of  his  conversion  with  some  a  priori 
argument  for  an  abstract  Christianity,  or  of  its  accord- 
ance with  his  own  nature,  and  with  all  nature.  This 
intellcctualizing  on  great  vital  facts,  whatever  may  be 
its  philosophical  merits,  can  never  come  up  to  the  bold 
and  picturesque  sublimity  of  the  words  —  *'At  mid- 
day, 0  king,  I  saw  in  the  way  a  light  from  heaven, 
above  the  brightness  of  the  sun,  shining  round  about 
me  ;  and  I  heard  a  voice  speaking  unto  me  and  saying, 
Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutest  thou  me  ?  "  Such  pas- 
sages reach  the  soul  in  every  clime,  as  abstraction  never 
could ;  and  from  the  reverence  we  have  been  accus- 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  47 

tomed  to  pay  to  universal  convictions,  and  from  tlic  ef- 
fect of  snch  eloquence  on  our  own  feelings,  we  believe 
that  mankind  have  not  been  fools  in  the  cherishing  of 
faith  wliich  brings  Divinity  into  active  and  wonder- 
causing  contact  with  humanity.  If  we  have  a  God  in 
our  faith,  let  us  have  one  who  can  do  something,  sat/ 
something,  and  impart  something  to  them  who  ask  him, 
and  not  a  tender  abstraction  who  has  no  thunder  for 
transgressors,  and  ayIio  is  so  lenient  and  plausible  that 
no  lawless  spirit  shall  regard  him  as  any  essential  ob- 
struction in  his  way.  Characters  of  most  energy 
always  grow  up  under  the  faith  of  God's  omnipotence, 
of  his  awful  majesty,  beautified  by  justice  and  love. 

The  youth  of  this  memoir  looked  around  upon  the 
dark  world,  and  upward  to  the  great  God  for  his  spirit's 
rest,  and  searched  through  the  labyrinth  of  his  own 
conflicting  emotions  to  find  a  rock  for  his  feet.  Often 
his  "  eyes  were  rivers  of  waters ;  "  and,  "as  I  looked 
around  for  comfort,  every  place  revealed  some  circum- 
stance that  gave  to  grief  a  keener  edge."  He  is  now 
so  deeply  touched  l)y  the  Holy  Spirit  that  nothing  filled 
him  with  delight  like  the  tender  portraiture  of  the  love 
of  Christ ;  the  profane  word  was  now  a  loathed  and  jar- 
ring discord  in  his  ear  ;  the  songs  of  the  wicked  deep- 
ened his  sadness,  and  often  did  he  repeat  to  himself, 
in  tears,  the  well-known  lines,  "  Alas  !  and  did  my 
Saviour  bleed  !  "  which  he  tells  us  had  the  power  to 
penetrate  his  heart  of  hearts,  whilst  the  most  secret  and 
hidden  recesses  of  the  wild  witnessed  his  humble  thank- 
offerings  of  praise  and  contrite  confessions  of  sin. 
Without  a  minister  to  aid  him,  and  without  the  sustain- 
ing sympathy  of  a  single  human  creature,  he  continued 


48  MEMOIR    OF 

to  wage  his  warfare  with  the  powers  of  darkness. 
A  young  man,  alone,  with  resolves  and  feelings  un- 
known to  man,  longing  for  the  clouds  of  his  being  to 
disperse,  and  for  the  influx  of  the  immortal  light  to 
crown  his  life  !  This  spectacle,  however  it  may  strike 
the  mere  formalist  and  the  seeker  of  material  good,  is 
one  which,  to  us,  joins  with  myriads  of  heart-histories 
in  different  climes,  to  attest  the  derivation  of  the  soul 
from  God,  to  declare  its  yearnings  and  struggles  against 
the  obstacles  of  sin  and  sense,  that  it  may  regain  the 
atmosphere  and  light  of  its  native  original  heaven. 

Contrary  to  the  customs  of  his  family,  he  went,  once 
in  a  great  while,  to  the  Methodist  meetings,  a  denomi- 
nation whose  power  to  reach  the  popular  mind  all  over 
the  world  is  known  and  honored.  At  one  of  these 
meetings,  July,  1811,  the  persons  present  supposed, 
from  his  former  reputation  for  rudeness,  that  he  was 
there  perhaps  to  criticise  derisively  their  humble  man- 
ner of  worship.  When  Mrs.  Tilden  arose  and  said, 
"  The  eyes  of  the  world  are  upon  us,  and  if  any  came 
here  to  feast  upon  our  failings,  or  to  spy  out  our  liberties, 
let  us  starve  them  to  death,  by  living  such  lives  that 
they*  can  find  no  action  of  which  to  speak  reproachful- 
ly" —  after  a  few  moments,  he  arose  and  said : 

"I  very  much  regret  that  any  of  my  neighbors  and 
friends  should,  for  one  moment,  imagine  me  as  an  enemy, 
or  suppose  that  I  came  here  to  ridicule  what  may  pass 
before  me.  Far  be  it  from  my  mind.  I  believe  religion 
is  what  all  men  need  to  make  them  haj^py  in  time  and 
eternity.  With  all  ray  heart  I  wish  you  well  and  hope  you 
will  go  on  your  way  rejoicing." 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  49 

This  was  the  first  time  he  had  spoken  in  public,  and 
though  the  object  of  his  remark  was  merely  to  furnish 
a  gentlemanly  apology  for  being  present,  it  caused  the 
religious  people  much  joy,  as  they  saw  him  sit  down  in 
tears  ;  and  ever  after  his  companions  regarded  him 
diflferently,  all  of  whom  were  startled  with  surprise,  and 
some  wept  as  they  heard  his  words. 

"  One  of  my  young  friends,  a  respectable  young  man, 
conversed  with  me  on  the  subject.  I  stated  to  him  all  I 
had  said,  and  in  part  I  manifested  my  feelings  to  him  with 
some  degree  of  boldness.  He  expressed  a  fear  tliat  I 
would  become  deluded,  though,  by  the  way,  he  had  never 
manifested  a  fear  of  the  kind  when  we  used  to  dance, 
play  cards,  and  spend  the  Sabbath  together  in  the  reading 
of  novels.  '  About  the  things  of  religion,'  said  he,  'it  is 
not  well  to  be  in  haste.  It  is  a  subject  which  needs  the 
greatest  deliberation.'  With  this  I  agreed.  He  further 
remarked,  'If  a  person  thinks  of  such  things,  it  is  not  best 
to  give  expression  to  such  thoughts,  because  people  will 
talk  about  it, and  you,'  continued  he,  'are  already  a  sub- 
ject of  conversation.  Many  are  concerned  for  you,  and 
wish  your  society,  and  you  know  it  is  a  disgrace  for  us  to 
go  among  those  foolish  and  ignorant  Methodists.'  By 
these  remarks,  coming  from  a  particular  friend,  I  was  em- 
barrassed, but  soon  learned  that  I  must  leave  all,  and  part 
with  my  dearest  companions  for  Christ;  that  two  masters 
it  was  impossible  to  serve  ;  and  in  my  indecision  I  seemed 
to  hear  a  voice  as  from  heaven,  saying,  '  Choose  ye  this 
day  whom  ye  will  serve,'  impressing  my  mind  with  the 
idea  that  then  was  the  time  for  me  to  secure  an  interest 
in  the  Great  Kedeemer.  Great  things  of  eternity  were 
continually  resting  on  my  mind;  the  saints,  as  they  had 
opportunity,  began  to  talk  with  me,  of  which  I  was  glad, 
3 


50  MEMOIR    OF 

though  to  them  I  did  not  say  much,  as  I  was  resolved  that 
others  should  not  know  my  feelings  ;  even  if  I  were  ever 
so  happy  as  to  feel  my  sins  forgiven,  I  was  determined 
not  to  say  much  about  it  to  others,  and  certainly  not  to 
make  such  an  ado  over  it  as  many  did." 

"  I  was  in  search  for  a  jijreat  and  sudden  chan<:^e.  About 
August  1st,  1811,  T  felt  impressed  to  retire  and  unbosom 
myself  to  the  Eternal  God,  and  cry  once  more  for  mercy. 
Walking  through  the  woods  to  a  large  valley,  I  there,  by 
a  murmuring  brook,  fell  on  my  knees  and  gave  vent  to 
my  burdened  heart  in  prayer.  For  a  moment  my  soul 
felt  delivered  of  all  her  griefs,  and  for  a  few  moments  I 
8ung  and  praised  God  in  that  delightful  place  with  all  my 
lieart ;  but  doubts  arose,  and  as  I  cast  over  the  scene  the 
eyes  of  reason,  my  little  heaven  vanished,  and  J  remained 
in  silence.  I  began  to  fear  that  I  was  walking  by  the 
light  of  imagination,  and  was  warming  myself  by  sparks  of 
my  own  kindling." 

"  I  began  to  be  more  familiar  with  the  saints,  sometimes 
revealing  to  them  in  part  my  determinations,  and  always 
gaining  strength  by  so  doing.  I  had  not  the  same  con- 
sciousness of  sin  as  before.  At  times,  before  I  was  aware 
of  it,  my  mind  would  be  soaring  above  on  heavenly  things  ; 
the  Scriptures  would  beautifully  open  to  my  mind,  and 
glorious  would  seem  the  things  of  religion  ;  yet  I  scarcely 
dared  to  rejoice.  I  derived  much  benefit  and  instruction 
from  the  conversation  of  the  saints,  and  though  I  asked 
their  prayers,  I  neither  united  with  them  in  prayer,  nor 
kneeled  according  to  their  custom.  The  narrated  experi- 
ence of  others  aided  me  some,  and  as  all  my  Christian 
friends  advised  me  to  pray,  I  again  kneeled  in  the  solitude 
of  nature  to  invoke  divine  aid,  when  the  reflection  that  I 
was  in  the  presence  of  an  Omnipotent  God  sealed  my  lips 
in  silence.     Almost  fearing  that  my  performances  were 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  51 

but  mockery,  I  felt  inclined  to  despair.  The  next  day 
gleams  of  hope  entered  my  mind  ;  and  on  Sunday,  hearing 
many  speak  of  the  power  of  God,  and  of  trials  they  had 
passed  through,  in  a  manner,  some  of  them,  that  exactly 
expressed  my  feelings,  I  took  courage,  because  there  "were 
others  in  whose  Christianity  I  had  conlidence,  who  felt  in 
some  respects  as  I  did.  Moved,  as  I  think,  by  the  Spirit 
of  God,  and  from  a  high  state  of  mental  resolve,  I  arose 
and  told  the  assembly  that  I  was  determined  to  seek  my 
happiness  in  religion,  in  which  alone  I  believed  it  could 
be  found.  Many  of  the  saints  praised  G  od  aloud,  and  my 
soul  was  filled  with  joy  and  peace  that  were  unspeakable. 
My  love  to  the  faithful  was  far  superior  to  anything  that 
ever  before  had  dilated  my  heart.  On  my  return  home 
the  very  winds  that  waved  the  trees,  and  the  streams  that 
flowed  through  the  quiet  valley,  seemed  unitedly  to  speak 
my  great  Creator's  praise.  The  fear  of  man  now  vanished, 
and  a  holy  boldness  moved  me  to  speak  to  all  around  me 
of  the  beauties  of  my  Lord.  My  soul  overflowed  with 
love  to  my  greatest  enemies,  and  my  wonder  was  that  the 
chief  of  sinners  did  not  behold  the  glory  of  God,  and 
unite  to  exalt  his  name.  Through  the  night  my  soul  was 
exceedingly  happy,  and  the  next  morning  I  thought  the 
sun  was  never  before  so  richly  laden  with  the  glory 
of  God.  I  had  never  known  so  happy,  so  pleasant  a 
morning." 

"  Though  I  did  not  then  suppose  myself  converted,  I 
now  think,  from  an  analysis  of  my  feelings,  that  I  enjoyed 
something  of  the  converting  grace  of  God,  for  the  follow- 
ing reasons  :  —  1st.  I  had  a  witness  in  my  own  soul  that 
God  was  my  friend.  2d.  I  felt  a  vital  union  with  all  the 
saints,  without  respect  to  name,  age,  or  color.  I  loved  them, 
and  could  say.  They  are  my  people.  Some  who  were  poor 
and  ignorant,  whom  I  had  formerly  despised,  I  was  able 


52  MEMOIR    OF 

to  embrace  as  my  best  friends.  3d.  I  felt  a  particular  re- 
gard for  every  creature  and  object  God  bad  made,  and  a 
tenderness  even  to  the  lowest  animal  forms  —  as  nothing 
seemed  unincluded  in  the  bond  of  love  that  united  me  and 
all  things  to  Him.  4th.  For  the  chief  of  sinners  I  felt 
particular  love,  regarding  such  as  brethren  in  nature,  and 
I  greatly  wished  them  to  share  in  the  peaceful  wealth  of 
the  Gospel.  5th.  My  former  ways  in  which  I  had  sought 
happiness,  now  seemed  to  me  as  worthless  and  vain.  In- 
deed I  abhorred  them." 

"  My  freedom  from  the  former  oppressive  gloom,  the 
fulness  of  the  tide  of  joy  tliat  was  rising  in  my  breast,  at 
times  startled  me  with  the  apprehension  that  as  I  was  not 
converted  I  ought  not  to  feel  so  light  and  so  free,  and  my 
embarrassment  was  increased  by  the  circulation  of  the  re- 
port among  the  people  that  I  was  converted.  They  began 
to  call  me  brother,  which  also  seemed  quite  too  much  for 
me  ;  and  as  I  could  not  feel  that  I  had  experienced  the 
change  as  usually  described,  I  began  to  fear  that  I  was 
deceived,  which  caused  me  much  trouble  and  induced  me 
to  be  silent  for  some  time,  as  I  was  unwilling  to  discourage 
or  to  deceive  others.  Although  I  never  had  so  much  con- 
fidence in  dreams  as  some,  yet  at  this  time  the  glory  of 
God  was  beautifully  revealed  to  me  in  night  visions,  and 
through  them  my  mind  was  relieved  of  many  doubts  and 
fears,  and  again  partook  of  the  inward  peace  which  the 
world  in  its  greatest  ability  is  unable  to  give.  For  several 
weeks,  however,  I  kept  my  joys  to  myself,  saying  nothing 
in  meeting  and  little  in  private,  as  I  was  determined  not 
to  deceive  others,  as  I  might  in  case  my  joys  should  prove 
unreal.  Employing  myself  constantly  in  reading  the 
Scriptures,  that  I  might  walk  understandingly,  my  mind 
for  several  weeks  was  swallowed  up  in  the  interest  their 
pages  revealed,  which  unfolded  a  glory  and  beauty  lean- 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  53 

not  describe.  In  my  retired  moments,  I  held  sweet  com- 
munion with  God,  and,  notwithstanding  the  shadows  of 
doubt  that  crossed  my  mind  in  solitude,  I  was  truly  led 
from  glory  to  glory." 

"I  heard  others  tell  the  day  and  the  hour  when  the 
change  was  wrought  in  their  hearts.  Herein  was  my 
greatest  trouble.  My  experience  was  not  like  others,  nor 
indeed  what  I  supposed  it  would  be.  I  knew  of  several 
times  when  my  mind  was  relieved  of  all  its  oppressions, 
but  as  I  could  single  out  no  one  of  them  and  call  it  con- 
version, I  concluded  that  the  whole  together  was  conver- 
sion. Though  continually  thirsting  for  new  evidence,  for 
which  I  was  much  drawn  out  in  prayer,  and  selecting  the 
most  retired  places  for  holy  meditation,  I  pondered,  like 
Mary,  these  things  in  my  heart.  Some  conversations 
about  this  time,  proved  beneficial  to  me ;  especially  was 
my  soul  refreshed  by  the  dreams  and  night  visions  that 
came  to  me,  making  it  seem  ofttimes  as  though  angels 
were  hovering  over  my  bed,  and  my  apartment  as 
filled  with  the  divine  glory.  I  was  many  times  ready  to 
say,  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth." 

In  this  manner  Mr.  B.  records  the  operations  of  his 
youthful  mind  in  seeking  to  solve  the  most  serious  of 
all  problems  —  his  soul's  salvation.  One  perceives  the 
presence  of  much  self-distrust,  much  repentance  ;  and 
an  abundance  of  sympathetic  sensibility  to  whatever  is 
morally  powerful  and  affecting  in  religion.  Perhaps 
some  have  already  taken  it  for  granted  that  this  youth 
of  overflowing  energy,  lonely  meditation,  earnest  prayer, 
and  self-questionings,  was  wholly  moving  on  the  tide  of 
popular  instruction,  or  that  he  fell  as  melted  lead  or 
iron,  into  the  moulds  of  theological  teaching  already 


54  MEMOIR    OF 

prepared.  This  view  is  suddenly  dispersed  by  all  that 
is  known  of  the  man,  and  by  the  facts  of  the  narrative 
itself.  Do  not  sin  and  conscious  alienation  from  God 
afford  good  cause  for  weeping  ?  Are  not  the  elements 
of  the  soul  itself  good  reason  for  prayer,  for  deep  de- 
sire and  aspiration  after  a  union  of  spirit  with  Him 
who  is  its  Parent  source  and  the  glorious  Perfection, 
of  which  it  now  has  clear  and  happy  glimpses  ?  That 
work  was  unable  to  absorb  his  mind,  that  society  could 
not  get  very  near  his  heart,  that  his  food  even  became 
tasteless,  and  his  home  a  scene  of  mourning,  are  facts 
that  hail  from  certain  states  of  mind  that  have  their 
deep  significance,  and  which,  in  India  and  Persia,  as 
well  as  in  the  American  wilderness,  have  their  numer- 
ous representatives. 

He  speaks  of  a  time  of  religious  interest  when  his 
father  felt  the  need  of  something  more  than  Deism  as 
a  support  to  his  mind ;  also  of  his  becoming  deeply 
interested  in  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Farewell,  a  Univer- 
salist  minister  ;  of  his  reading  Avith  great  zeal  the  writ- 
ings of  Winchester,  Dr.  Hunting,  Ballou,  and  others  of 
the  same  faith,  often  spending  whole  nights  in  writing 
and  study  ;  books  which,  at  his  father's  request,  he  also 
studied  ;  and  though  for  a  time  embarrassed  by  the 
philosophical  arguments  of  Mr.  Ballou  on  the  Atone- 
ment and  other  topics,  he  discarded  them  ere  long,  with 
an  earnest  decision  as  opposed  to  the  religious  experi- 
ence which  gave  him  joy  and  hope,  and  as  contrary  to 
the  plain  teachings  of  the  Scriptures.  At  this  early 
day  Universalism  was  indeed  a  bold  extreme,  it  being 
little  else  than  Calvinism  benevolently  applied  to  human 
diistiny  ;  audits  strongly  controversial  and  undevotional 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  55 

character  was  poorly  adapted  to  a  -welcome  in  hearts  that 
were  glowing  with  the  sacred  enthusiasm  of  religious 
love.  One  evening  he  offered  some  speculative  con- 
versation in  relation  to  the  being  and  attributes  of 
Satan,  which  so  hurt  the  minds  of  the  converts  that  he 
resolved  no  longer  to. harbor  these  negations,  the  dwell- 
ing upon  which  so  much  discorded  with  the  happy  feel- 
ings inspired  by  their  simple  faith  and  humble  worship. 
The  Methodist  denomination,  at  this  time  very  spirit- 
ual and  very  prosperous  in  the  province,  was  with  him 
a  favorite,  though  for  reasonsindependent  of  the  dicta- 
tion of  persons  or  of  circumstances,  he  did  not  become  a 
member  of  their  society  in  his  town,  a  fact  which  did 
not  at  all  interfere  with  the  entire  freedom  and  cordial 
fellowship  they  mutually  enjoyed.  A  Methodist  Dis- 
cipline is  kindly  offered  him.  He  gladly  reads,  and 
commits  it  mostly  to  memory.  But  there  is  something 
in  this  young  man  that  questions  the  Discipline  and  the 
ministers  who  explain  it ;  that  regards  it  as  formal,  and 
in  many  respects  unlike  the  Scriptures  ;  that  quietly 
declines  making  it  the  groundwork  of  a  faith  and  a 
sectarian  position,  though  he  does  not  break  the  happy 
concord  about  him  by  obtruding  open  controversy.  He 
joined  no  sect. 

"  I  wondered,"  said  he,  "  that  saints  cannot  all  be  one. 
I  thou2:ht  it  strannje  that  the  affectionate  names  of  *  Breth- 
ren,' '  Disciples,'  '  Christians,' '  Friends,'  —  golden  names 
that  I  found  scattered  through  the  New  Testament,  were 
not  sufficient  without  the  sectarian  names  under  which  the 
denominations  were  marshalled.  This  was  a  great  mys- 
tery to  me.     I  knew  of  none  at  that  time  who  adopted  the 


56  MEMOIR    OP 

name  of  Christian  as  their  only  designation  ;  but  young 
and  ignorant  as  I  then  was,  I  thought  I  beheld  something 
more  glorious  than  anything  at  which  either  myself  or 
others  had  as  yet  arrived.  My  trials  in  pondering  over 
these  things  were  great.  There  were  others  who  agreed 
with  me  in  ideas  of  liberty,  that  were  far  greater  than 
anything  within  the  limits  of  the  Discipline." 

At  a  time  when  the  righteousness  of  sectarianism 
was  undisputed,  when  no  voices  from  the  pulpit  were 
pleading  for  the  true  catholicity  of  the  Christian  faith, 
and  when  his  associates  were  moved  along  by  emotional 
ardor,  was  it  not  a  strong,  clear-sighted,  original  force 
of  the  young  man  that  paused  to  ask,  Why  this  form- 
ality and  narrowness  of  creed  ?  Why  these  many 
sectarian  names  ?  Why  is  the  unity  of  the  religion  of 
Jesus  broken  by  sects  ?  These  indeed  were  great 
questions  for  a  young  man  in  1811 ;  and  in  resolving 
them  into  a  principle  of  action  without  relinquishing 
an  iota  of  the  faith  and  piety  that  had  inspired  him 
with  hope,  and  joy  unspeakable,  he  has  given  to  the 
world  an  early  proof  of  the  superiority  of  mind  of 
which  his  maturer  years  were  the  exhibition.  The 
multitude,  yielding  to  the  enthusiasm  of  great  moral 
excitement,  often  float  along  as  flood-wood.  He  so  con 
trolled  the  current  that  bore  him,  as  to  be  his  own  man, 
free  from  the  despotism  of  any  sectarian  platform. 

Through  the  spring  and  summer  of  1812,  his  mind 
steadily  poised  on  heavenly  things,  and  anxious  to  do 
what  the  will  of  God  in  Christ  required,  he  made  the 
subject  of  baptism  a  topic  of  study. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  57 

"  I  searched  the  New  Testament,  as  I  was  determined 
to  know  all  that  it  said  on  the  subject.  I  first  became 
satisfied  from  the  Scriptures,  and  secret  prayer,  that  bap- 
tism was  an  institution  of  the  Redeemer.  2.  That  it  was 
enjoined  on  all  believers  in  tlie  Son  of  God.  3.  That  the 
mode  practised  in  primitive  days  was  going  down  into  the 
water,  and  coming  up  out  of  the  water  after  being  buried 
therein. ,  Although  I  was  so  clear  relative  to  these  three 
ideas,  I  often  wept  and  cried  to  God  in  secret  places  in 
view  of  my  unworthiness  ;  but  I  received  a  glorious  answer 
that  in  this  institution  of  outward  acknowledgment  and 
obedience,  I  ought  to  follow  the  examples  of  Him  who  is 
the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  Life.  One  evening  when  my 
mind  was  much  tried  on  this  subject,  I  prayed  to  God  that 
if  it  was  my  duty  to  bo  baptized,  I  might  dream  of 
pleasant  water.  That  night  when  locked  in  sleep  I  dreamed 
of  riding  on  the  most  beautiful  stream  that  I  ever  had 
seen  ;  also  of  being  immersed  in  the  pure  and  tranquil 
element,  whilst  the  divine  glory  shone  around  as  a  sacred 
enchantment.  When  I  awoke  my  heart  was  filled  with 
love  divine,  and  I  believe  that,  had  there  been  an  admin- 
istrator present,  I  should  hardly  have  waited  for  the  day- 
dawn.  These  feelings  I  kept  to  myself;  and,  as  I  could 
not  think  of  any  administrator,  or  fix  on  time  and  place, 
I  continued  in  this  way  till  the  first  of  September." 

"  I  then  went  to  Hatley  to  attend  a  general  meeting, 
and  a  glorious  time  it  was.  Here  I  first  saw  Elder  Ben- 
jamin Page,  from  Vermont,  who  preached  a  very  instruc- 
tive and  refreshing  discourse  from  Rom.  8 :  21.  'Be- 
cause the  creature  itself  also  shall  be  delivered  from  the 
bondage  of  corruption  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  sons 
of  God.'  Here  I  became  acquainted  with  many  of  God's 
people  whom  I  had  not  known,  and  in  their  spirituality 
and  freedom  I  saw  what  more  accorded  with  my  exiiting 
3* 


58  MEMOIR   OP 

ideas  than  I  yet  had  seen.  Nearly  two  hours  Mr.  Page 
spoke  again  from  Isa,  33  :  2.  It  was  a  glorious  time,  as 
was  also  the  evening  meeting,  in  which  many  participated. 
The  next  day  we  all  parted  with  tears  of  joy,  never  ex- 
pecting to  meet  again  on  earth.  As  I  was  about  to  leave, 
I  took  Elder  Moulton  by  the  hand  and  asked  him  if  he 
would  come  to  Compton  and  preach,  to  which  he  replied 
that  he  would  whenever  I  desired  him,  inquiring  at  the 
same  time  if  there  were  not  some  in  our  vicinity  who 
would  like  to  receive  baptism,  saying,  'I  have  thought 
for  some  time  that  I  should  have  to  go  there  to  adminis- 
ter this  ordinance  '  —  a  remark  that  gave  to  my  former  im- 
pressions a  new  evidence  of  my  present  duty.  We  agreed 
upon  the  time  ;  I  made  the  appointment  and  longed  for  the 
day  to  come ;  but  the  morning  that  brought  me  this  new 
responsibility  was  not  wholly  without  clouds,  as  the  cross 
appeared  great  and  fears  arose.     In  spirit,  I  said, — 

" '  Jesus,  my  Lord,  my  Life,  my  Light, 
O  come  with  blissful  ray  ; 
Break  radiant  through  the  shades  of  night, 
And  chase  my  fears  away.* 

In  a  trembling  and  prayerful  state  of  mind  I  went  to 
church,  where  I  found  a  large  concourse  of  people  in 
attendance,  to  whom  Elder  M.  preached  words  of  life. 
Among  the  many  that  were  moved  to  speak  in  honor  of 
the  Redeemer,  I  arose,  expressed  my  love  to  God  and  the 
saints,  inviting  my  young  companions  to  a  rich  and  costly 
repast,  without  money  and  without  price.  Here  every 
doubt  was  removed.  Here  I  gained  strength.  The  glory 
of  God  filled  my  heart.  My  father  being  present,  Elder 
M.  asked  him  if  he  was  willing  that  his  son  should  go  for- 
ward in  baptism,  to  which  he  replied  that  he  was  per- 
fectly willing  that  Joseph,  in  things  of  religion,  should 
act  according  to  his  own  conception  of  duty.     This  gave 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  59 

me  additional  joy.  I  had  chosen  a  pleasant  stream,  the 
Coatecook  river,  as  the  place  where  I  preferred  to  receive 
baptism,  to  which  locality  we  walked,  two  and  two,  in 
large  procession,  the  distance  of  half  a  mile,  singing  the 
praises  of  God  as  we  advanced.  This  day,  Sept.  29, 
1812,  will  be  held  in  everlasting  remembrance  by  me. 
My  father  sat  upon  his  horse  a  few  rods  above  me,  in  the 
water,  so  as  to  have  a  fair  prospect.  I  was  informed  by 
the  spectators  who  stood  near  him,  that  when  I  went  into 
the  water  the  tears  flowed  freely  from  his  eyes.  Under 
the  smile  of  clear  skies,  of  a  quiet  surrounding  nature,  I 
was  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost.  The  hearts  of  the  brethren  on  shore  ap- 
peared full  of  joy,  and  some  voices  of  acclamation  were 
heard.  It  seemed,  indeed,  as  though  the  heavens  were 
opened,  and  the  Spirit  was  hovering  on  the  assembly. 
Some  praised,  others  wept,  and  a  sweet  peace  and  calm- 
ness filled  my  soul.  As  I  ascended  from  the  water,  I  sung 
the  following  lines  with  the  Spirit,  and  I  think  with  the 
understanding  also : 

"  'But  who  is  this  that  cometh  forth, 
Sweet  as  the  blooming  morning, 
Fair  as  the  moon,  clear  as  the  sun  ? 
0  'T  is  Jesus  Christ  adorning.'  * 

"We  returned  singing ;  and  truly,  like  the  Ethiopian  wor- 
shipper, we  *  went  on  our  way  rejoicing.'  From  this  time, 
I  felt  that  I  was  newly  established  in  God's  grace.  I  had 
more  strength  to  withstand  temptation,  more  confidence 
to  speak  in  the  holy  cause  of  the  Redeemer.  Here,  with 
the  Psalmist,  I  could  say,  *  How  love  I  thy  law ;  it  is 
my  meditation  all  the  day.' 

*  This  and  its  accompanying  stanza 


60  MEMOIR    OF 

"  '  Let  wonder  still  with  love  unite, 
And  gratitude  and  joy  ; 
Be  holiness  my  heart's  delight, 
Thy  praises  my  employ.'  " 

Thus  reads  the  narrative  of  such  outward  and  inward 
facts  as  belong  to  the  early  religious  history  of  Joseph 
Badger.  Its  component  parts  are,  deep  feeling,  much 
thought,  temporary  doubting  and  despondency,  peni- 
tence, inward  aspiration,  prayerful  reliance  on  God, 
and  at  last  a  wide  Christian  fellowship,  untinged  by 
sectarian  preference,  and  a  conscious  peace  and  joy  in 
God.  Through  the  many  changes  of  theory,  each 
Avinning  admirers  and  having  its  day ;  through  the 
stormy  excitements  of  the  religious  feeling  in  the  world, 
Mr.  B.  always  retained  his  equilibrium  and  his  con- 
stancy. And  why  ?  Because  he  laid  his  basis  not  in 
dogma,  not  in  speculation,  but  in  experience.  By  this 
he  held  his  course,  it  being  an  anchor  in  the  sea-voyage 
of  life,  a  pole-star  to  the  otherwise  doubtful  wanderings 
of  the  world's  night.  What  can  we  or  any  one 
hnoiv  of  Divinity,  except  what  we  hold  in  our  inward 
consciousness  and  experience  ?  Nothing  else.  Words 
do  not  reveal  holy  mysteries.  The  soul  jnust  have 
God  in  its  OAvn  life,  or  He  is  a  mere  intellectual  con- 
ception, a  mere  word.  "We  admire  the  poetic,  marvel- 
lous vein  that  enables  one  to  linger  upon  a  beautiful 
dream.  The  young  man,  already  rich  in  the  Spirit's 
baptism,  saw  sacred  value  in  the  outward  form,  in  the 
pure  Scripture  symbol.  Earlier  than  the  dates  of 
Christian  records  in  Palestine,  did  the  religious  feeling 
of  man,  in  different  climes,  select  water  as  one  of  its 
best  formal   expressions ;  and,  though  not  heretofore 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  6X 

inattentive  to  what  theological  controversy  has  said  on 
the  subject,  we  should  say  it  is  as  well  to  stake   one's 
duty  now  on  a  beautiful  dream,  as  on  all  the  light  en- 
gendered  by   the    ablest   controversy   ever   held   by 
polemic  divines.     The  Coatecook  and  the  Jordan  arc, 
through  faith,  equally  sacred,  as  it  is  the  Spirit  that 
sanctifies.     What  can  surpass  in  beauty   and  loveli- 
ness, the  idea  of  the   grand  baptismal  scene  of  the 
sacred  river  of  Judea?     We  imagine   the   numerous 
multitude  walking   silently  thither  through  the  over- 
shadowing woods,  and  in  anxious,  reverent  musings, 
standing  upon  its  banks.     We  feel   the  thoughts  of 
penitence,  the  gleams  of  hope,  half  shaded  by  melan- 
choly, as  they  here  stole  into  the  hearts  of  Abraham's 
dejected  sons ;  and  with  them  we  muse  upon  the  ex- 
pected Christ  of  their  deliverance,  whom  they  daily 
hoped  to  see.     We  gaze  upon  the  form  of  one  whose 
moral  and  physical  beauty  it  had  delighted  the  eyes 
of  the  most  beautiful  to  have  seen ;  and  as  the  waters 
glide  by  him  on  cither  side  in  graceful  loveliness,  —  as 
the  yellow  sunbeams  here  and  there  rest  calmly  upon 
the  shaded  current,  we  see  him  meekly  bowed  into  the 
genial  waters  ;  and  what   artist  shall  ever  picture  the 
beauty  of  the  ideal  in  our  minds  when  we   view  the 
circling  dove  from  on  high  hovering  upon  the  Saviour's 
breast,  and  the  golden   stream  of  light  through  the 
opening  heaven  descending  upon  his  brow  ?     Formal 
baptism,  thus  honored  and  glorified,  remains  a  perma- 
nent institution  of  religion  and  of  the  Christian  Church. 


62  MEMOIR    OF 

CHAPTER  V. 

CALL   TO   AND    ENTRANCE   UPON   THE   MINISTRY. 

"  But  rise,  and  stand  upon  thy  feet :  for  I  have  appeared  unto  thee 
for  this  purpose,  to  make  thee  a  minister  and  a  witness  both  of  these 
things  which  thou  hast  seen,  and  of  those  things  in  the  which  I  will 
appear  unto  thee." — Acts  26  :  16. 

With  these  words  of  a  high  mission  Mr.  Badger's 
journal  opens,  and  how  well  does  it  accord  with  the  idea 
of  divine  agency  in  placing  moral  lights  in  the  world, 
and  with  what  to  him  was  a  common  thought,  the  une- 
qualled greatness  of  the  minister's  station.  More  than 
once  or  twice  have  I  heard  him  say  to  the  young  man 
who  Avas  publicly  receiving  the  honors  of  ordination,  or 
of  a  conferential  reception,  "  You  are  called,  my  brother, 
to  fulfil  the  duties  of  the  highest  station  ever  occupied 
by  a  human  being.  No  station  on  earth  is  so  great  in 
its  nature,  and  so  responsible  in  its  duties,  as  that  of  the 
Christian  minister  ; "  and  more  than  once,  in  the  quiet 
social  circle,  and  when  alone,  heard  him  say  :  "  I  would 
not  exchange  the  joys  and  trials  and  honors  of  the 
Christian  ministry,  for  the  throne  of  the  ablest  king  on 
earth."  And  this  was  the  settled,  serious  feeling  of 
his  mind.  He  recognized  God  in  the  call  of  the  true 
minister,  not  leaving  the  sacred  choice  at  the  mercy  of 
family  policy,  of  individual  ambition,  or  the  efficiency 
of  college  endowment. 

*'  In  ages  past,"  says  Mr.  Badger,  "  God  has  seen  fit 
to  raise  up,  qualify,  and  send  forth  ambassadors  to  the 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  .63 

people.  He  has  frequently  sent  angels  with  celestial  mes- 
sages to  men.  Men  also  have  been  employed  in  the  same 
work,  have  received  the  word  from  Him  and  declared  it 
to  the  people.  Aaron,  Moses,  Jeremiah,  Isaiah  and 
others,  are  striking  illustrations  of  the  truth  that  God 
has  appeared  unto  men  to  make  them  ministers  and  wit- 
nesses of  those  things  tliey  have  seen,  and  of  those  which 
he  shall  reveal  unto  them.  John  said,  '  We  speak  the 
things  we  do  know,  and  testify  the  things  we  have  seen.* 
The  Gospel  is  not  something  learned  by  human  teaching, 
as  are  the  mathematics  and  divers  natural  sciences.  St. 
Paul  was  nearer  its  fountain-head  and  true  attainment 
when  he  said,  '  I  neither  received  it  from  man,  neither 
was  I  taught  it  but  by  the  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ.* 
*  Wo  is  unto  me  if  I  preach  not  the  Gospel.'  Neither 
reputation  nor  worldly  recompense  prompted  the  apostoli- 
cal preaching.  '  We  preach  not  ourselves,  but  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.'  <  Freely  thou  hast  received,  freely  give.' 
The  Gospel  is  not  an  earthly  product,  but  a  divine  insti- 
tution for  divine  ends.  The  preaching  of  it,  therefore,  is 
the  highest  possible  work,  demanding  the  greatest  delib- 
eration and  integrity.  Its  effects  are  either  *  a  savor  of 
life  unto  life,  or  of  death  unto  death.'  How  delightful 
also  is  this  employment,  as  it  brings  life,  light  and  com- 
fort to  all  who  yield  to  itg  elevating,  enlightening  and 
purifying  power." 

These  passages,  written  in  the  early  years  of  his 
ministerial  life,  at  once  recalled  the  second  sermon*  that 
the  writer  of  this  ever  heard  him  preach,  founded  on 
the  heroic  text  of  St.  Paul,  "  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the 
Gospel  of  Christ,"  f  in  "which  he  announced  the  Gospel 

*At  Ionia,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  1835.  f  Rom.  1:  16 


64  MEMOIR    OF 

as  a  divine  science,  as  a  refining  power,  as  according 
^yith  human  nciture  and  its  wants  ;  and,  indeed,  as  "  the 
only  |jcrfect  science  of  human  happiness  known  on 
earth."  Such  is  the  supremacy  he  unwaveringly  gave 
to  Christ,  to  his  Gospel,  and  to  its  genuine  ministry. 

The  feeling  that  drew  the  mind  of  Mr.  Badger  into 
the  ministry,  was  an  early  one^  having  birth  almost 
contemporaneously  with  the  deep  strivings  of  his  mind 
already  narrated  in  the  previous  chapter.  It  was  the 
highest  as]tiration  of  his  youth.  Often,  when  at  work, 
as  early  as  the  autumn  of  1811,  then  nineteen  years  of 
age,  his  mind  scarcely  within  his  own  control,  he  was  fre- 
quently in  a  preaching  frame,  and  often  fancied  that 
he  was  speaking  to  audiences  of  people  on  the  attrac- 
tions, of  Christ;  so  thoroughly  was  his  mind  engrossed 
^^*  tl^ese  meditations,  that  he  often  spoke  several  words 
before  being  aware  of  it,  and  not  unfrcquently  did  he 
find  himself  suffused  with  tears.  "  I  had  at  this  time," 
says  Mr.  B.,  "  no  idea  that  I  should  ever  be  a  minister." 

"  As  soon  as  I  had  myself  partaken  of  the  pardoning 
love  of  Christ.  I  felt  as  though  all  otliers  should  be  sharers 
in  eternal  life.  In  prayer,  my  mind  was  drawn  out  for  all 
men,  for  the  chief  of  sinners.  My  mind  was  quickly 
weaned  from  earthly  delights,  and  all  my  powers  were  de- 
voted to  spiritual  interests.  The  few  good  ministers  I 
knew  I  esteemed  as  the  best  and  happiest  of  human  be- 
ings ;  and,  as  the  harvest  seemed  great,  I  often  prayed 
that  the  Lord  would  send  forth  more  laborers  into  the 
field.  I  thought  if  I  were  in  such  a  minister's  place  I 
would  go  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  to  sound  the  message  of 
redeeming  love.     It  was  in  the  midst  of  such  meditations 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  63 

that,  in  the  first  of  the  year  1812,  all  at  once  the  idea 
broke  into  my  mind  that  I  must  leave  all  and  preach 
Christ.  My  soul  shrunk  away  from  the  overpowering 
greatness  of  the  thought,  which  I  immediately  banished 
from  my  mind  ;  but  with  its  banishment  there  came  a 
gloomy  despondency,  as  through  the  winter  I  continued  at 
times  to  be  exercised  with  the  spirit  of  a  station,  which  I 
supposed  I  never  could  fill. 

'*  In  the  spring  I  went  into  the  woods  to  make  sugar, 
a  business  much  followed  in  that  country.  Night  and  day 
for  several  weeks  I  was  here  confined,  a  scene  that  might 
once  have  been  gloomy,  but  now  was  delightsome,  as  I 
enjoyed  much  of  God's  presence  in  my  secret  devotions. 
I  kept  my  liible  with  me,  had  some  opportunity  of  read- 
ing, which  I  eagerly  improved  with  the  greatest  satisfac- 
tion. Here  my  mind  was  again  powerfully  exercised  in 
relation  to  preaching ;  these  impressions  always  brought 
with  them  the  greatest  solemnity.  At  such  times  I  sought 
the  most  retired  places  I  could  find,  wishing  that  I  might 
hide,  as  it  were,  '  in  the  cleft  of  the  rock,'  as  the  sacred 
vision  passed  before  me.  I  said,  '  Lord,  who  is  sufficient 
for  these  things  ? '  and  with  Jeremiah  I  was  constrained 
to  say,  '  I  cannot  speak,  for  I  am  a  child.'  While  these 
things  like  mountains  were  rolled  upon  my  mind,  I  fre- 
quently spent  the  greater  part  of  the  whole  night  in  prayer, 
in  which  I  asked  that  I  might  be  excused,  and  that  these 
things  might  be  taken  from  me.  Hours  in  the  lonely 
woods  I  passed  in  tears,  and  none  but  the  angels  witnessed 
the  action  and  utterance  of  my  grief.  Once  I  opened  my 
Bible  wishing  to  know  my  duty,  and  the  first  words  I  be- 
held were,  '  The  harvest  is  past,  the  summer  is  ended,  and 
we  are  not  saved  ; '  language  that  impressed  me  with  the 
great  importance  of  the  present  time  as  an  opportunity  to 
lay  up  treasure  in  heaven  ;  to  call  the  attention  of  men  to 


G6  MEMOIR    OP 

their  salvation,  before  tlie  lamentation  of  the  prophet 
should  become  their  sad  and  unhopeful  song.  From  the 
depth  of  my  spirit  I  said,  Oh  !  my  soul,  can  I  be  excusa- 
ble for  my  silence,  when  I  behold  the  dark  tide  of  sin  on 
which  myriads  are  rushing  to  eternal  wo  ?  Hearing  the 
voice  of  Heaven  perpetually  resounding  '  Why  will  ye 
die  ?  '  and  beholding  the  crimson  tide  of  the  loving,  dying 
Christ,  that  ever  spoke  of  mercy,  whilst  angels  appeared 
to  my  view  as  waiting  and  longing  to  rejoice  over  one  re- 
penting sinner,  I  said.  Can  I  refrain  from  warning  men  of 
their  danger,  from  inviting  them  to  the  Christ  of  their  de- 
liverance ?  For  several  days  the  above  named  scripture 
occupied  my  mind,  and  I  was  satisfied  that  God  was 
drawiiig  me  into  the  ministry  by  these  impressions,  and 
soon  I  was  willing  to  leave  all,  and  suffer  the  loss  of  all 
things  for  Christ. 

"  Late  in  the  spring  I  left  my  retirement,  with  a  coun- 
tenance wan  and  fallen,  and  a  lieart  filled  with  '  wo  is 
me  if  I  preach  not  the  Gospel.'  I  was  silent,  no  company 
seemed  agreeable,  and  to  no  one  did  I  confide  my  feelings. 
In  the  summer  of  1812,  I  searclied  the  Scriptures,  and 
often  did  my  mind  so  extensively  open  to  an  understand- 
ing of  what  I  read,  that  I  was  impressed  to  communicate 
what  I  felt  and  what  I  saw.  On  some  particular  passage 
my  mind  would  rest  for  several  days  at  a  time,  and  ideas 
of  which  I  had  never  before  thought,  would  present 
themselves.  Well  do  I  remember  the  great  power  in 
which  the  words  of  the  apostolical  commission  came  to  my 
mind  :  '  Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel 
to  every  creature  ; '  words  that  seemed  night  and  day  to 
sound  as  a  voice  of  thunder  through  my  spirit.  I  regarded 
this  as  the  divine  voice ;  as  Job  says,  '  God  thunderetli 
marvellously  with  his  voice.'  From  all  the  scripture  I  read 
I  gathered  something  that  taught  me  the  moral  situation 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  67 

of  mankind,  God's  willingness  and  ways  for  saving^hcra, 
also  my  own  duty  to  my  race.  Remarkable  dreams  at 
this  time  united  wuth  other  evidences  to  confirm  me  in  my 
duty,  as  often  in  the  midnight  slumber  I  dreamed  of  speak- 
ing to  large  assemblies  in  the  name  and  spirit  of  the  Lord. 
Frequently,  under  these  exercises,  I  sjioke  so  loud  as  to 
awaken  the  people  in  the  house,  and  sometimes  awoke  in 
tears  calling  on  sinners  to  repent  and  embrace  the  Saviour. 
When  sleep  departed  from  my  eyes,  as  it  frequently  did,  I 
would  spend  most  of  the  night  in  prayer  to  God.  Often 
could  I  say,  with  the  weeping  Hebrew  prophet,  '  Oh,  that 
mine  head  were  waters,  and  mine  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears, 
that  I  might  weep  day  and  night.'  But  none,  except 
those  who  have  passed  through  similar  trials,  can  under- 
stand tlic  peculiar  e^^perience  touched  upon  in  these  last 
paragraphs." 

The  passage  of  men,  called  in  any  divine  ^vay,  from 
worldly  business  into  the  work  of  reclaiming  souls  from 
sin,  cannot  be  as  smooth  and  easy  as  the  passage  one 
makes  from  a  machine-shop  to  a  counting-room.  Fash- 
ion and  custom  may  render  it  so,  but  these  are  far  from 
being  God's  prime  ministers.  Is  there  no  preparatory 
process  by  which  the  spirit  of  the  prophet  is  stirred  to  its 
depth  ?  Did  not  the  fine  nature  of  Jesus  undergo  temp- 
tations and  trials  in  the  wilderness  for  forty  days  before 
he  entered  upon  his  public  mission  ?  Did  he  not  there 
feel  the  grandeur  of  his  mission,  when  he  foresaw  the  cost 
of  all  that  the  world  and  its  ambition  holds  dear,  as  the 
result  of  his  future  procedure  ?  He  casts  the  worldly 
crown  beneath  his  feet,  and  steadily  fixes  his  eye  on  the 
immortal  go«d  of  the  world  as  his  end.  The  coarser 
heart  of  Arabia's  prophet  also  sought  solitude   as  its 


68  MEMOm    OF 

home^re  it  gave  to  the  East  its  lasting  oracles.  The 
question  of  the  calculating  European  and  New  Eng- 
lander,  as  to  which  one  of  his  family  he  shall  select 
with  whom  to  stock  the  sacred  profession,  never  came 
from  the  land  of  inspiration  and  of  divine  missions.  He 
that  was  too  dull  to  be  a  rogue,  or  a  successful  practi- 
titioner  inlaw,  medicine  or  merchandise,  the  old  maxim 
thought  to  promise  best  for  the  pulpit.  No  such  plot- 
tings  had  aught  to  do  in  the  election  of  this  young  man. 
It  was  warm  from  his  heart,  was  seasoned  in  prayers, 
baptized  in  tears,  and  cherished  in  sleepless  night- 
watchings  and  lonely  meditations.  Preaching  skilfully, 
learned  as  an  art,  may  be  had  almost  as  cheaply  as  Pa- 
risian dancing  ;  but  the  Uving  word  that  "  breaketh  the 
rocks  in  pieces  "  never  comes  in  it. 

Mr.  Badger  attended  meetings  through  the  summer, 
heard,  when  they  had  no  minister,  one  of  John  Wes- 
ley's sermons  read,  as  dictated  by  the  discipline  ;  mm- 
gling  with  others  his  own  voice  of  exhortation  and 
prayer.  The  eyes  of  all  were  soon  fixed  upon  him,  and 
the  brethren  began  to  complain  of  his  disobedience  to 
the  heavenly  vision  long  before  he  had  intimated  to 
any  one  the  state  of  his  mind.  Some  assured  him  con- 
fidently that  they  had  an  evidence  from  God  that  it 
was  his  duty  to  preach,  and  that  their  meetings  were 
impoverished  by  his  unfaithful  withholding.  "  This," 
says  he,  "  I  could  not  deny."  Though  encouraged  by 
the  kindred  sympathy  of  Mr.  Gilson,  who  narrated  to 
him  his  own  trials  before  entering  the  ministry,  though 
finding  a  response  to  his  own  conviction  of  duty  in  the 
hearts  of  all  the  spiritually  minded  about  him,  he  did 
not  immediately  or  hastily  go  forth  in  ministerial  action 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  69 

and  armor.  He  -waited  the  call  of  circumstance  and 
occasion.  His  journal  narrates  a  most  beautiful  visit 
lie  had  at  the  house  of  Capt.  Felix  Ward,  where  the 
conversation  was  wholly  devoted  to  religion ;  where 
scripture  inquiry,  prayer  and  holy  song  united  to  en- 
lighten their  minds,  and  to  lay  the  basis  of  a  valuable 
lasting  friendship ;  and  though  strangers  to  each  other, 
the  family  spoke  of  him  afterwards  as  one  whom  they 
then  believed  would  be  a  chosen  vessel  to  bear  the 
honor  of  God  before  the  Gentiles.  "  I  thought,"  says 
Mr.  B.,  "  I  scarcely  ever  saw  a  house  so  full  of  the 
glory  of  God." 

But  particular  occasion  calls.  In  June  or  July,  1812, 
persecution  arose  in  Ascott,  which  drove  from  the 
province  two  successful  ministers,  Messrs.  Bates  and 
Granger,  because  they  would  not  swear  allegiance  to 
King  George,  which  they  boldly  affirmed  that  they 
would  never  do.  Thanking  God  that  they  were 
counted  worthy  to  suffer  for  Christ,  they  meekly  sub- 
mitted to  the  persecution  that  seized  them  as  prisoners 
in  the  midst  of  a  happy  meeting,  and  that  drove  them, 
after  a  lengthy  arbitration,  back  into  their  own  country, 
the  State  of  Vermont. 

**Whcn  I  heard  of  this  circumstance,"  says  Mr.  B., 
**  my  heart,  filled  with  love  for  the  dear  converts  and 
brethren  who  were  bereaved  of  their  pastors  by  the  counsel 
of  the  ungodly,  caused  me  to  feel  my  responsibility  anew  ; 
as  I  was  a  citizen  of  the  country,  knew  the  manners  and 
customs  of  the  people,  and  could  easily  take  a  position 
from  which  the  same  persecuting  powers  could  not  drive 
me.     My  heart,  like  David's,  began  to  burn  with  a  holy 


70  MEMOIR    OF 

resolve  to  go  forth  into  the  field,  and  take  the  place  of  my 
injured  brothers." 

Though  a  stranger  in  the  town  of  Ascott,  where 
these  events  occurred,  (a  town  about  twelve  miles 
from  Compton,)  he  started  on  Saturday,  near  Sept. 
1st,  to  attend  with  them  a  general  meeting  of  which 
he  had  previously  heard,  and  as  he  was  riding  through 
a  space  of  woods,  it  suddenly  struck  him  that  Mr. 
Moulton  would  be  absent,  and  that  he  should  be 
obliged  to  speak  ;  and  the  hundreds  who  remember 
the  simplicity  and  naturalness  of  the  texts  from  which 
he  almost  invariably  preached  in  after  life,  will  sec 
something  characteristic  in  the  passage,  Ileb.  13  :  1, 
that  came  at  once  to  his  mind,  "  Let  brotherly  love 
continue."  Hesitating  for  a  time  whether  he  would 
proceed,  or  return,  as  he  was  satisfied  that  he  should 
meet  this  great  duty  if  he  proceeded,  he  went  forward, 
found  a  large  audience  assembled  and  no  minister 
present.  As  he  entered,  all  eyes  were  attracted  to 
him,  and  though  many  present  regarded  him  as  one 
whom  the  Holy  Spirit  had  called  to  preach,  he  re- 
mained through  the  meeting  in  silence,  except  at  the 
close  he  owned  his  disobedience,  and  received  from 
several  present  waraings  to  be  faithful  hereafter.  In 
personal  figure  Mr.  B.  was  a  noble  and  commanding 
man,  one  that  could  not  pass  among  strangers  without 
drawing  to  himself  a  marked  attention. 

Saturday  evening  he  was  invited  to  pass  at  Mr. 
Bullard's,  where  they  spent  part  of  the  evening  in 
singing,  and  hours,  he  says,  upon  their  knees  in 
prayer,  —  an  evening  by  him  never  forgotten,  as  the 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  71 

Holy  Spirit  consciously  filled  their  hearts  with  joy. 
"  I  thought  then,"  says  our  youth,  "  I  never  saw  so 
happy  a  family.  Oh,  what  a  glorious  age  will  it  be 
when  the  principles  of  pure  religion  shall  pervade  the 
world !  "  On  Sunday  they  repaired  to  the  place  of 
worship,  where  "  Mr.  M.  most  beautifully  described 
from  James  1 :  25,  the  perfect  law  of  liberty.  Many 
were  in  spirit  refreshed,  and  indeed  we  sat  together 
in  heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus."  As  the  Lord'g 
Supper  was  not  then  administered,  another  appoint- 
ment was  made,  and  from  the  happy  influences  of  this 
meeting  with  saints,  Mr.  B.  returned  home  "  in  the 
power  of  the  Spirit,"  firmly  resolved  to  do  all  that 
duty  might  ever  require.  lie  again  returned  to  Ascott 
to  attend  the  appointment  made  for  the  communion, 
where  Mr.  M.  gave  an  M(^  discourse  on  having  "  a 
sound  mind,^^  and  where,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life, 
he  partook  of  the  symbols  of  Jesus'  truth  and  dying 
love.     He  says : 

"  I  trembled  at  the  thought  of  attending  on  so  sacred 
an  ordinance,  and  with  so  holy  a  band  of  brethren  ;  but 
a^I  could  not  feel  justiQed  in  the  neglect  of  the  privilege, 
I  came  forward  in  the  worthiness  of  my  Lord,  and  I  believe 
with  his  fear  before  my  eyes.  A  deep  solemnity  rested  on 
the  whole  assembly,  and  our  souls,  at  the  close,  were  seem- 
ingly on  flame  for  the  realms  above.  I  was  never  happier 
in  my  life  at  the  close  of  a  meeting. 

"Mr.  M.,  having  appointments  over  St.  Francis  River, 
wished  me  to  take  a  journey  with  him.  I  complied.  We 
crossed  the  river,  visited  several  families,  had  one  meeting ; 
then  passing  up  the  river  to  Westbury  (eight  miles), through 
a  woody  region  mostly,  we  arrived  in  the  afternoon  much 


72  MEMOIR   OP 

fatiofued,  as  we  had  to  encounter  the  buffetin^js  of  a  violent 
storm.  On  our  way,  I  had  fallen  back  and  rode  several 
miles  alone  in  the  most  serious  meditations.  I  clearly  saw 
the  hardships  of  a  missionary  life,  and  felt  that  I  must 
enter  the  field.  We  found  a  loving  company  of  brethren, 
who  received  us  kindly,  and  who  appeared  to  be  steadfast 
in  faith.  We  held  several  good  meetings  in  the  place. 
Some  were  baptized.  I  also  made  the  acquaintance  of 
Mr.  Zenas  Adams,  a  young  minister  who  had  just  begun 
to  preach.  This  journey  increased  my  confidence,  as  Mr. 
Moulton  was  a  discerning  man,  and  qualified  both  from 
knowledge  and  sympathy  to  assist  young  ministers.  The 
conversations  with  Mr.  Adams  were  also  advantageous. 
He  was  but  a  few  months  my  elder. 

"  I  had  now  arrived  at  a  crisis  in  which  I  must  earn- 
estly dispose  of  every  practical  objection.  I  had  said,  '  I 
am  a  child  —  I  cannot  speak.'  I  was  but  twenty  years  of 
age ;  I  thought  my  friends  might  be  unwilling.  Soon, 
however,  my  father  gave  me  my  freedom  ;  and  I  felt  that 
there  was  much  meaning  yet  in  the  good  scripture  which 
saith,  '  It  shall  be  given  you  in  that  same  hour  what  ye 
shall  speak.'  I  plead  a  comparative  illiteracy,  as  the 
minister  is  ordained  to  teach,  and  ought  to  command  the 
various  resources  of  knowledge.  This  objection  also  fled 
before  that  potent  scripture,  James  1 :  5,  '  If  any  of  ydti 
lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God,  who  giveth  to  all  men 
liberally,  and  upbraideth  not ;  and  it  shall  be  given  him.' 
I  was  satisfied  of  this,  that  if  God  had  called  me  to  the 
work,  with  health,  youth,  and  industry  on  my  part.  He 
would  give  me  every  necessary  qualification.  As  swim- 
ming is  learned  by  swimming,  and  agriculture  is  acquired 
by  its  active  pursuit,  it  struck  me  that  fidelity  in  the  new 
work  would  secure  the  only  efiectual  skill  in  conducting  it. 
I  thought  of  a  kind  father's  house,  of  my  loving  parents 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  73 

who  had  watched  over  my  childhood,  of  tlie  four  brothers 
and  four  sisters  wiih  whom  I  had  lived  iii  the  greatest 
friendship  ;  and  I  did  not  omit  to  think  of  the  needful 
renunciation  of  worldly  prospects,  and  of  the  censures  I 
should  get  from  some,  and  the  various  treatment  I  had 
reason  to  expect  from  the  world  if  I  went  out  as  a  faith- 
ful, uncompromising  ambassador  of  Clirist.  To  take  the 
parting  hand  with  my  dear  relatives,  and  to  live  in  the 
world  as  a  stranger  and  foreigner,  called  up  many  painful 
emotions  in  my  breast  as  I  glanced  into  the  uncertain 
future.  Still  no  tide  of  emotion  could  carry  me  back  in 
my  purposes,  and  with  much  feeling  I  felt  to  say  : 

'* '  Farewell,  oh  my  parents,  the  joy  of  my  childhood, 
My  brothers  and  sisters,  I  bid  you  adieu ! 
To  w.inder  creation,  its  fields  and  its  wildwood, 
And  call  upon  mortals  tlicir  God  to  pursue  : 
"When  driven  by  rain-drops,  and  night  sliades  prevailing, 
And  keen  piercing  north-winds  my  thin  robes  assailing, 
And  stars  of  the  twilight  in  lustre  regaling, 
I'll  seek  some  repose  in  a  cottage  unknown.' 

^'  Through  all  my  discouragements  and  melancholy 
hours,  interspersed  throughout  nearly  a  year's  continu- 
ance, there  were  times  when  the  sweet  peace  of  God  grew 
conscious  in  my  heart,  and  always  did  this  passage  bring 
with  it  a  cheering  light,  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even 
unto  the  end  of  the  world ! '  I  felt  that  it  was  mine,  that  it 
was  for  me,  and  for  all  true  ministers  through  time,  as  well 
as  for  the  worthier  ones  who  carried  the  Master's  truth 
through  suffering  and  trial  over  the  earth.  -Feeling  now 
that  the  time  had  come  when  I  must  venture  forth,  and 
finding  that  nothing  among  the  armory  of  Saul  would 
suit  my  form  or  answer  my  purpose,  I  concluded  that  no 
other  way  remained  for  me  but  to  rely  on  '  the  mighty 
arm  of  the  God  of  Jacob,'  under  whose  name  I  would 
4 


74       '  MEMOIR   OP 

figlit  the  battle  of  life.  In  the  latter  part  of  October, 
1812,  on  a  pleasant  Sabbath  morning,  while  the  people 
were  gathering  from  every  direction  for  meeting,  the  fol- 
lowing passage  came  with  power  to  my  mind,  and  as  no 
minister  was  present  that  day,  I  knew  I  could  offer  no 
good  excuse  for  a  refusal  to  speak.  Phil.  2:5.  *  Let 
this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus.'  On 
this  text,  on  this  very  glorious  theme,  my  public  life  be- 
gan, and  doubtless  in  a  weak,  broken,  and  trembling  man- 
ner. I  have  often  thought  of  my  first  text,  and  have 
endeavored  to  make  it  my  motto  for  life,  for  it  is  on  the 
idea  liere  advanced  that  the  vital  merit  of  ministers  and 
Christians  must  forever  depend.  How  important  that 
the  Gospel  minister  should  have  the  mind  of  Christ! 
How  can  he  otherwise  preach  Him  to  the  world  ?  How 
may  he  penetrate  the' centre  of  other  souls  and  hold  up 
the  living  evidence  of  Christianity  without  it  ?  How  im- 
portant that  all  Christians  have  His  spirit  and  temper ! 
For  it  is  this  that  directs,  this  that  supports,  this  that 
adorns  the  child  of  God." 

"  But  when  the  echo  of  the  first  effort  came  back 
from  the  community,  '  Joseph  Badger  has  become  a 
preacher,'  a  sentence  then  in  everybody's  mouth,  I  was 
greatly  mortified,  particularly  when  the  invitations  came 
to  me  before  the  week  had  ended,  to  go  and  preach  in 
different  parts  of  the  town.  I  complied  as  far  as  practica- 
ble with  these  requests,  and  our  meetings  were  thronged 
with  people  who  came  to  hear  the  new  minister,  the 
young  man  —  young,  indeed,  in  a  double  sense,  —  in  years 
and  in  experience.  Perhaps  never  before  did  surround- 
ing circumstances  unite  to  render  me  more  thoroughly 
conscious  of  my  weakness,  dependence,  and  inefficiency. 
I  spent  much  time  in  secret  prayer,  and  in  pensive  medi- 
tation, and  the  cry  I  once  before  had  made  in  the  antici- 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  VO 

pation  now  arose  witli  redoubled  energy,  '  Lord,  who  is 
sufficient  for  these  things  ? '  More  than  ever  did  I  begin 
to  fell  the  worth  of  souls  by  night  and  by  day;  and 
through  the  bodily  fatigues  to  wliioh  my  labors  subjected 
me,  the  sense  of  responsibility  and  insufficiency  that 
weighed  upon  me,  my  mind  was  somewhat  shaded  with 
melancholy,  and  often  did  my  heart  find  relief  in  tears." 

'*The  next  Thursday  evening  after  my  first  sermon,  I 
attended  a  Conference,  where  I  met  Mr.  Gilson,  a  well- 
known  minister.  He  appeared  much  rejoiced  at  what  he 
called  *  the  good  news,'  and  insisted  that  as  there  were 
many  present,  I  should  occupy  the  desk  as  the  speaker, 
and  give  the  introductory  sermon.  This,  to  me,  was  a 
great  cross,  particularly  so  as  one  of  my  brothers  was 
present.  After  enduring  for  a  time  the  conflict  of  feel- 
ings, which  may  be  easily  imagined,  I  went  forward  in 
prayer,  then  arose  to  speak  from  1  John  5,  19th  verse : 
*  And  -vve  know  that  we  are  of  God,  and  the  whole  world 
lieth  in  wickedness.'  In  speaking,  I  had  a  good  time,  and 
both  branches  of  the  subject,  which  run  over  the  ground 
occupied  by  saints  and  sinners,  seemed  to  have  a  good 
effect ;  it  inspired  joy  in  the  one,  and  awakened  solemnity 
in  the  other.  Mr.  G.  approbated  my  discourse,  but  I  felt 
much  mortified  that  I,  a  mere  lad,  was  called  out  to  set 
my  few  loaves  and  small  Jishes  before  the  great  multi- 
tude." 


76  MEMOIR    OF 

CHAPTER  YI. 

PUBLIC  LABORS  IN  THE  PROVINCE. 

**  From  tliis  time,  I  continued  to  improve  my  gift  in 
public  speaking,  in  this  and  other  neighborlioods  of  the 
town.  Feeling  much  friendship  and  care  for  the  brethren 
in  Ascott,  I  spent  as  much  time  as  my  business  would 
allow  among  them,  which  was  to  my  instruction  and  com- 
fort, as  there  were  in  that  place  many  faithful  and  experi- 
enced Christians.  As  I  had  some  leisure,  and  found  it 
duty  to  visit  the  neighboring  towns,  I  thought  it  would 
be  proper  to  have  something  to  show,  upon  my  introduc- 
tion to  strange  communities,  what  my  character  and  stand- 
ing were  at  home.  As  I  felt  commissioned  from  God's 
throne,  I  saw  no  necessity  of  applying  to  men  for  license 
or  liberty  to  preach,  and  therefore  only  sought  a  confirma- 
tion of  my  moral  character.  It  would  indeed  be  an  absurd 
mission  that  did  not  include  the  liberty  of  fuUilling  the 
duty  imposed.  Thus  '  I  did  not  go  up  to  Jerusalem  to 
those  who  were  Apostles  before  me,'  though  I  conferred 
much  with  '  flesh  and  blood.'  I  submitted  this  question 
to  Mr.  John  Gilson,  who  as  a  minister  was  highly  respected. 
He  concurred  with  me  in  opinion,  gave  me  a  letter  stating 
that  my  moral  and  Christian  character  was  good,  and 
that  the  religious  community  believed  me  to  be  called  to 
preach  the  Gospel.  This  was  singular,  as  I  was  not  a 
Methodist,  and  was  in  no  way  pledged  to  their  peculiar 
doctrines.  We  always  had,  however,  a  good  understand- 
ing, and  it  was  with  tears  that  I  parted  from  them.  Since 
then  I  have  often  met  them  with  joy,  and  they  are  still 
dear  in  my  memory.*    For  one  year  from  the  time  I  began 

*  This  part  of  the  journal  was  written  in  1816. 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  77 

to  preach,  this  was  all  the  letter  I  had,  whilst  with  solemn 
joy  I  went  through  the  region  of  Lower  Canada  to  preach, 
experiencing  the  mingled  cup  of  joy  and  trial  common  to 
a  missionary  life,  which  was  my  heart's  choice." 

"  In  the  winter  of  1812  I  made  it  my  home  in  Ascott, 
attended  school  some,  but,  so  far  as  scholarship  is  con- 
cerned, to  little  profit,  as  my  mind  was  subjected  to  im- 
pressions that  constrained  me  to  leave  school  and  preach 
Christ.  In  the  early  part  of  the  winter,  I  concluded  to 
visit  Shijjton,  on  a  preaching  tour  of  about  sixty  miles, 
with  Zenas  Adams.  He  was  a  well-informed  young  man, 
who  had  commenced  preaching  a  few  months  earlier  than 
my.^elf.  We  started  on  foot,  and  travelled  along  with 
mind  and  conversation  seriously  imbued  with  the  spirit  of 
our  calling,  to  the  appointments  we  had  made,  where  we 
met  large  assemblies,  who  had  convened  to  hear  what  the 
boys  could  say.  Brother  A.  spoke  mostly  on  this^tour. 
We  attended  meetings  in  Brompton,  Melbourne,  Shipton, 
and  other  places,  meeting  kind  receptions  and  gentle  treat- 
ment from  many  good  Christians,  and  short  answers  from 
some  of  our  enemies.  At  Shipton  we  were  joyfully 
received  by  Capt.  E[)hraim  Magoon,  in  a  manner  never 
to  be  forgotten  by  me  ;  also  we^e  we  kindly  greeted  by 
many  other  good  friends.  We  passed  sevenildays  in  this 
place,  which  laid  the  foundation  for  a  long  acquaintance, 
and  for  my  subsequent  labors  in  that  community." 

The  following  paragraph  is  so  characteristic  of  Mr. 
B.,  that  no  one  can  fail  to  see  the  man  as  present  in 
the  youth.  It  was  in  sudden  emergency  that  the 
energy  and  creativeness  of  his  genius  were  always  man- 
ifest. Though  naturally  diffident,  no  one  ever  saw 
him  in  an  emergency  that  proved  greater  than  his  own 
mind.     His  dignity,  firmness,  composure  and  aptness 


78 


ME3I0IR    OF 


at  such  times,  were  always  striking  and  heroic.     In  a 
crisis,  who  ever  saw  him  at  a  loss  ? 

"  On  our  return,  at  a  meeting  held  at  Mr.  Hovey's, 
whilst  Adams  was  preaching,  a  British  officer  came  in. 
When  the  sermon  was  ended,  I  arose  to  speak  by  way  of 
exhortation.  It  was  a  solemn,  weeping  time,  and  I  ob- 
served the  officer  to  shed  tears.  When  the  meeting  was 
dismissed  he  made  known  to  us  his  business,  informing  us 
that  Esquire  Gushing  had  sent  him  to  arrest  us,  and  to 
bring  us  before  him  for  examination,  as  it  was  a  time  of 
war  between  two  nations,  and  we  were  strangers.  '  But 
as  for  myself,'  he  kindly  observed,  '  I  am  not  concerned 
about  you,  and  if  you  will  agree  to  call  on  Esquire  C.  to- 
morrow, I  will  return  home ; '  to  which  we  agreed,  ex- 
horting him  to  repent.  The  next  day  we  called  at  Esquire 
Cushing's  tavern  (for  his  were  the  double  honors  of  land- 
lord and  magistrate)  and  ordered  refreshment.  At  even- 
ing we  were  formally  summoned  into  his  presence.  I 
walked  forward  and  Adams  fell  in  the  rear,  in  order 
that  I  might  act  as  the  chief  speaker.  Mr.  Gushing  then 
exclaimed,  with  all  the  harsh  authority  a  British  tyrant 
could  assume  'What 's  ^our  business  in  this  country  ?'  I 
replied,  '  To  preach  Ghrist's  Gospel,  sir.'  '  By  what  au- 
thority ?  '  'By  the  authority  of  Heaven,  sir.'  At  this  the 
old  man  began  to  look  surprised  ancfteaten,  thinking  that 
I  probably  knew- his  character  too  well  for  him  to  succeed 
in  this  sort  of  treatment ;  and  my  friend  Adams,  constitii- 
tionally  mild  and  retiring,  began  to  take  courage.  He 
then  observed,  '  How  came  you  in  this  country  ? '  '  My 
father  purchasing  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  town  of 
Compton,  brought  me  into  this  country  when  nine  years 
old,  and,  sir,  I  have  as  good  a  right  here  as  you  or  any 
other  man.'     '  Have  you  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  ? ' 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  79 

*Yes,  sir.'  *Let  me  see  your  certificate/  added  he.  I 
presented  it ;  it  was  read  and  returned.  '  Are  you  a  son 
of  Miijor  Badger,  of  Compton?'  'I  am,  sir.'  'Well, 
you  'd  better  be  at  home  than  to  be  strolling  about  the 
country.'  '  I  thank  you,  sir,  I  shall  attend  to  what  em- 
ployment I  think  best,  and  shall  visit  what  part  of  the 
country  I  please.'  Here  I  was  dismissed,  and  I  conclude 
he  thought  me  a  saucy  fellow." 

"  Next  poor  Adams  had  to  walk  up.  He  came  forward 
Avith  a  calm  and  delicate  countenance,  clothed  in  the  sweet 
temper  of  the  Lamb.  Tiie  blood  which  had  forsaken  his 
beardless  face,  now  returned,  and  adorned  his  cheeks  with 
their  accustomed  bloom,  as  he  stood  before  a  '  beast  of  the 
deep,'  who  possessed  much  of  the  spirit  that  prevailed  in 
his  mother-country  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary,  who 
caused  her  own  beautiful  cousin,  Lady  Jane  Grey,  to 
ascend  the  scaffold  at  the  age  of  seventeen  to  suffer  death 
for  her  religion.  Brother  Adams  had  taken  the  oath  of 
allegiance,  but  as  he  could  present  no  certificate  he  expe- 
rienced some  difficulty  and  suffered  much  abuse.  But  his 
soft  answers  served  to  turn  away  wrath.  As  I  knew  him 
I  spoke  in  his  favor,  and  after  a  short  time  we  were  dis- 
missed. The  next  morning,  after  paying  an  extravagant 
price  for  poor,  and  to  us  disagreeable  entertainment,  we 
departed,  rejoicing  that  we  in  our  youthful  days  were 
counted  worthy  to  suffer  for  Jesus'  sake." 

"  This  journey  was  very  beneficial  to  me.  Here  a 
friendship  was  formed  between  brother  Adams  and  my- 
self which  has  never  since  been  destroyed.  He  was  an 
excellent  young  man,  and  had  not  at  that  time  joined  the 
Methodist  connection.  After  a  most  agreeable  acquaint- 
ance for  more  than  one  year,  it  was  heart-rending  to  part 
with  him.  I  found  that  he  was  resolved  to  join  the  So- 
ciety, and  that  he  was  very  anxious  that  I  should.     We 


80  MEMOIR    OF 

conversed  on  the  measure  lengthily.  I  proposed  to  him 
that  we  would  travel  at  large,  and  not  be  confined  to  sect 
or  party,  but  preach  a  free  salvation  to  all  who  would 
hear  us.  He  said  that  his  confidence  was  so  small,  that 
h^  thought  it  best  to  preach  upon  an  established  circuit, 
where  he  should  be  sure  of  a  living  and  where  he  should 
have  homes  to  receive  him.  I  replied,  that  I  could  not  fear 
to  trust  in  God  for  a  living;  that  the  faithful  minister 
would  never  starve  ;  and  that  if  I  could  not  get  further  on 
my  way,  at  any  time,  T  would  go  home  and  resume  my 
daily  toil.  I  saw  that  he  was  set  on  going  to  Conference; 
he  al.-^o  saw  that  I  had  a  permanent  dislike  to  the  Bishop's 
power,  and  that  I  would  not  become  subject  to  the 
Methodist  laics.  AVe  did  not  longer  urge  each  other,  but 
parted  in  love.  I  walked  with  him  half  a  mile,  when 
he  started,  and  I  felt  the  trial  of  our  parting  to  be  great. 
We  kneeled  in  the  woods  with  our  arms  around  each  other, 
and  when  we  had  prayed  and  bathed  each  other's  bosoms 
in  tears,  we  arose  and  parted  with  affectionate  salutation, 
never  expecting  to  meet  again  on  earth.  He  went  to 
unite  with  the  American  Methodists,  and  I,  more  from 
duty  than  inclination,  remained  among  enemies  in  Lower 
Canada,  to  stem  the  torrent  of  opposition  alone." 

"In  the  month  of  January  I  left  school,  rode  to  Hatley 
and  Stanstead,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Mogogue,  where  I 
spent  certain  days,  and  attended  several  meetings.  The 
greater  part  of  the  winter,  when  out  of  school,  I  spent  at 
Ascott,  Compton,  and  Westbury,  where  I  had  good  times, 
though  mingled  with  trials  and  temptations.  The  first 
day  of  January,  1813,  was  a  veiy  glorious  time  at  a  gen- 
eral meeting  in  Ascott.  Mr.  Gilson,  and  «.  colored  man 
by  the  name  of  Dunbar,  who  was  both  a  godly  man  and 
a  faithful  preacher,  were  our  princi{)al  speakers.  In  the 
month  of  March  I  took  a  journey  to  Shipton  alone,  where 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  81 

I  enjoyed  a  glorious  meeting,  and  made  an  engagement  to 
return  in  the  spring. 

"  During  this  month,  my  eldest  brother  came  four  miles 
to  hear  me  preach.  He  requested  me  to  make  an  appoint- 
ment at  his  house,  which  was  near  nfy  father's  residence  ; 
and  but  few  of  our  family  had  ever  heard  me  speak.  His 
house  was  one  where  I  had  attended  many  balls  and  had 
met  assemblies  for  vain  recreations.  The  audience  to 
whom  I  spoke  was  composed  of  my  parents,  brothers,  sis- 
ters, neighbors,  and  my  fellow  youth,  who  had  been  my  old 
companions  m  sin  —  circumstances  that  rendered  my  cross 
very  great.  My  father's  presence  made  my  embarrass- 
ment much  greater,  as  I  knew  the  critical  cast  of  his  mind, 
the  extensive  reading  and  education  by  which  his  intellect 
was  enriched.  I  observed  that  my  father  selected  a  seat 
with  his  back  towards  me.  Excessive  as  my  cross  was,  I 
could  not  be  reconciled  to  this,  I  arose  and  presented 
him  my  chair,  and  when  he  had  again  taken  his  scat,  I 
read  a  hymn  from  the  Methodist  collection,  which  was 
sweetly  sung  by  the  young  people,  my  brother  serving  as 
chorister.  After  prayer  and  the  second  singing,  I  an- 
nounced my  text,  at  which  every  countenance  fell,  a  gen- 
eral surprise  being  visible  all  around,  and  the  young  people 
appeared  as  solemn  as  if  the  day  of  doom  had  dawned.  I 
believe  I  have  intimated  heretofore  that,  as  a  town,  the 
people  were  irreligious.  My  text  was  Matt.  23 :  33. 
*  Ye  serpents,  ye  generation  of  vipers !  how  can  ye  escape 
the  damnation  of  hell  ? '  My  text  was  harsh,  but  my  dis- 
course was  mild.  I  first  noticed  the  natural  qualities  of 
serpents  and  vipers  that  constituted  the  analogy  of  the 
passage,  and  that  furnished  the  reason  of  their  being  so 
called.  Second,  I  described  what  I  considered  to  be  the 
damnation  of  hell.  Third,  I  endeavored  to  show  how  we 
might  escape  this,  and  the  necessity  of  improving  a  present 
4* 


82  MEMOIR    OF  ^ 

day  of  grace.  I  then  addressed  myself  to  the  assem- 
bly in  the  following  order:  1st,  to  my  parents ;  2d,  to  my 
brothers  and  sisters  ;  3d,  to  the  young  people  ;  4th,  to  the 
neighbors.  This  was  indeed  one  of  the  most  affecting 
scenes  I  ever  had  witnessed.  When  I  came  to  address 
the  young  people  in  relation  to  our  former  sports  in  that 
room,  and  to  express  my  regard  for  them,  and  to  tell  them 
of  the  new  and  better  inheritance  I  had  discovered,  some 
wept  aloud,  and  at  the  close  several  said  *  Pray  for  me.' 
I  name  this  circumstance,  as  it  was  the  first  time  my  pa- 
rents ever  hejtrd  me  preach,  and  it  being  a  time  deeply 
impressed  on  my  own  memory.  After  this  I  rode  four 
miles,  and  preached  in  the  evening  at  Mr.  Benjamin 
Sleeper's,  in  whose  house  a  most  beautiful  child  lay  dead, 
and  which  on  the  following  morning  received  its  burial." 

I  find,  on  another  page  of  his  journal,  that  the 
sermon  here  spoken  of  bears  date  March  23d,  1813. 

**  I  now  began  to  reflect  on  the  situation  of  the  peo- 
ple at  Shipton,  and  felt  it  my  duty  to  return  to  them,  as  in 
that  and  in  several  adjoining  towns  there  was  no  minister. 
I  accordingly  made  preparations  and  started,  April  1st, 
1813.  On  the  way  I  spoke  several  times,  to  good  assem- 
blies ;  arrived  on  the  Gth,  and  found  from  multitudes  a 
joyful  reception.  A  reformation  immediately  began  among 
the  youth,  and  the  spirits  of  the  aged  pilgrims  revived  like 
the  golden  life  of  a  second  summer.  This,  to  me,  was  an 
evidence  I  could  not  doubt,  that  it  was  under  a  heavenly 
guidance  that  I  had  come  to  Shipton.  I  made  it  my 
home  at  Capt.  Magoon's,  where  I  enjoyed,  with  the  aged 
people,  many  very  happy  hours  ;  they  were  indeed  the 
excellent  of  the  earth,  and  I  hope  their  numerous  kind- 
nesses to  me  may  receive  a  thousandfold  reward." 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  8d 

*'  In  the  month  of  June,  I  made  my  first  visit  to  Ring- 
sey,  to  which  phice  I  was  invited  by  Col.  Bean,  one  of  my 
father's  particular  acquaintances,  likewise  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal men  in  this  community.  Though  invited  on  a  per- 
sonal visit  at  his  house,  which  was  about  sixteen  miles  dis- 
tant, I  found,  on  my  arrival,  a  multitude  assembled,  to 
whom  I  spoke,  nnder  the  conscious  aid  of  the  higher  power. 
Several  dated  their  conviction  from  this  meeting,  and 
through  all  the  town  the  reformation  spread.  After  speak- 
ing to  them  a  few  more  times,  I  returned  to  Shipton  ;  and  in 
a  few  weeks  visited  them  again,  where  I  found  several 
happy  converts  and  many  whose  heart-cry  was  for  mercy. 
Thus  the  work  spread  until  it  was  thought  that  upwards  of 
one-half  of  the  grown  people  had  experienced  religion  ;  I 
say  experienced  religion,  for  religion  is  not  a  matter  of 
theory  but  of  life.  Its  home  is  not  in  the  dry  speculation 
of  the  brain,  but  in  the  field  of  experience.  Religion  in 
theory  is  like  the  pictures  of  trees  and  flowers  ;  they  may 
win  the  eye  and  the  ft\ncy  ;  but  these  pictures  do  not  blos- 
som, nor  grow,  nor  bear  fruits.  The  juices  of  life  flow  in 
the  roots  and  branches  of  everything  that  grows." 

"  Col.  Bean,  my  good  friend,  whose  house  was  always  to 
me  an  agreeable  home,  and  some  of  his  children,  found 
peace  in  Christ.  He  continued  a  shining  light  until  his 
death,  which  was  about  one  year  after.  The  many  pleas- 
ant days  and  nights  enjoyed  with  him  and  his  agreeable 
family  aflford  pleasure  in  their  recollection ;  and  though 
these  cheerful  scenes  are  not  to  be  recalled,  I  trust  they 
may  be  resumed  in  a  better  state  of  being." 

*'  The  latter  part  of  August  I  was  invited  to  attend  a 
meeting  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town  of  Ringsey,  a  place 
whose  inhabitants  were  said  to  be  remarkably  hardened 
and  wicked.  I  thought  a  place  like  this  should  not  be 
shunned  by  a  minister  whose  commission  it  is  to  seek  the 


84  MEMOIR    OF 

lost.  At  the  time  appointed  there  was  a  general  attend- 
ance. I  had  rode  a  long  distance,  and  both  myself  and 
horse  were  very  much  fatigued.  I  had  no  attention  what- 
ever paid  me  as  to  refreshment,  nor  did  their  sense  of 
civility  or  bowels  of  compassion  disturb  them  with  a  sin- 
gle thought  about  the  needs  of  the  faithful  animal  that 
had  done  its  part  in  helping  them  to  a  minister,  and  that 
stood  very  patiently  by  the  side  of  the  fence.  I  stood,  a 
stranger,  in  the  midst  of  glaring  spectators.  I  recollect 
that  when  walking  through  the  assembly,  I  felt  an  emo- 
tion of  tenderness  and  solicitude  for  them  that  nearly  im- 
pelled me  to  tears.  I  spoke  to  them  from  Zech.  9:  12, 
and,  if  ever  the  Being  who  gave  me  my  mission  assisted 
me  in  fulfilling  it,  it  was  then.  Though  very  feeble  in 
health  I  spoke  to  them  over  one  hour,  and  the  power  of 
God  came  down  upon  the  assembly,  and  many  wept  aloud. 
At  the  close  I  gave  opportunity  to  any  who  wished  me  to 
pray  for  them  to  indicate  their  mind  by  rising,  when  the 
greater  part  of  the  assembly  arose.  The  cry  was  audible 
and  general,  '  What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  ? '  In  my 
closing  prayer  I  could  scarcely  be  heard.  Though  late,  I 
mounted  my  horse,  and  rode  nine  miles  to  Shipton,  where, 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Heath,  I  was  kindly  treated.  But  I 
was  so  weary  and  exhausted  that  I  retired  without  refresh- 
ment, and  did  not  visit  Ringsey  again  for  several  weeks, 
leaving  them  to  work  out  their  own  salvation.  I  then 
proceeded  up  the  St.  Francis  river  about  seventy  miles, 
to  the  town  of  Dudswell,  where  I  found  a  happy  circle  of 
Christians.  When  I  again  returned  to  Ringsey  the  scene 
was  wonderfully  changed.  Old  and  young  flocked  into  the 
streets  to  meet  and  welcome  my  return.  I  could  not  pass 
a  house  where  I  was  not  urged  to  go  in.  I  occasionally 
spoke  to  them  during  my  stay  in  that  country.  Truly  in 
this  place  were  the  songs  of  the  old  and  the  young  mingled 
together." 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  85 

"  In  the  month  of  August,  we  held  at  Shipton  a  gen- 
eral meeting.  Mr.  R.  Smith  preached  a  very  interesting 
discourse  on  Saturday,  from  Gal.  3  :  26  :  '  For  ye  are  all 
the  children  of  God  by  faith  in  Christ  Jesus.'  Sunday 
morning  Mr.  Avery  Moulton  spoke  from  Acts  3 :  22 : 
*  A  prophet  shall  the  Lord  your  God  raise  up.'  Mr.  J. 
Gilson  next  addressed  the  assembly  from  2  Kings  5 :  13. 
After  him  I  endeavored  to  speak  from  Zech.  9 :  17 : 
'  For  how  great  is  his  goodness,  how  great  is  his  beauty  ! ' 
Several  happy  converts  were  baptized  at  this  meeting  by 
Elder  Moulton. 

"  From  this  we  appointed  a  general  meeting  to  be  held 
at  Ascott,  on  the  8th,  9  th,  and  10th  of  October.  It  be- 
ing a  time  of  war  between  two  powerful  nations,  our 
situation  was  rendered  very  unpleasant  in  many  respects. 
Our  provincial  officers  were  much  opposed  to  our  travel- 
ling from  town  to  town,  and  our  brethren  in  general  refused 
to  bear  arms.  This  enraged  the  officers.  They  frequently 
sent  spies  to  our  meetings  to  see  if  we  prayed  for.  the 
king  and  if  we  preached  against  the  government,  as  we 
afterward  learned.  One  of  the  officers  once  accosted  me 
in  these  words  :  '  Well,  JMr.  Badger,  I  understand  you  do 
not  pray  for  the  king  ! '  '  You  are  mistaken,  sir,  I  do 
pray  for  the  king.'  '  But  how  do  you  pray  for  him  ?  '  'I 
pray  that  he  may  become  converted,  and  be  a  child  of 
God.'  *  Ah  !  but  that  won't  do ;  you  ought  to  pray  for 
the  success  of  his  arms.'  'I  do,  sir,  pray  for  his  arms, 
that  his  swords  may  be  beaten  into  ploughshares  and  his 
spears  into  pruning-hooks.  This  is  the  best  prayer  I  can 
make  in  his  behalf,'  He  did  not  seem  to  like  my  answer, 
but  said  no  more  to  me. 

"  The  October  meeting  coming  off  at  this  time,  made  no 
small  stir  among  the  people,  and  the  wicked,  as  of  old, 
'  took  counsel  together  against  the  Lord,  and  against  His 


86  MEMOIR    OP 

anointed.'  As  they  had  been  successful  in  driving  two 
good  preachers  out  of  the  country,  they  were  now  em- 
boldened to  make  a  strong  attempt,  first  to  frighten  us  out 
of  the  country,  and  should  they  fail  in  that,  which  they 
did,  to  disturb  our  meetings  as  their  next  best  stroke  of 
policy.  They  issued  warrants  for  nine  of  us,  myself  and 
two  other  ministers,  and  six  of  the  leading  members  of 
our  churches.  We  were  arrested  on  the  first  day  of  our 
meeting,  which  had  opened  under  promising  auspices,  as 
enemies  to  the  Government.  I  had  an  insight  into  their 
methods  before  any  part  of  their  plot  was  executed  ;  for 
as  I  was  on  my  way  the  morning  of  the  8th,  and  within 
eight  or  nine  miles  of  the  meeting,  an  officer  with  whom 
I  was  acquainted,  hailed  me  from  his  house  and  observed 
if  I  would  wait  a  few  moments  he  would  be  my  company. 
As  we  rode  along  I  drew  from  him  a  development  of  the 
whole  plot,  and  at  that  time  I  became  his  prisoner.  The 
greatest  fear  I  had  was  this,  that  the  meeting  would  be 
essentially  disturbed.  The  prisoners  were  to  be  delivered 
and  have  their  trial  at  Mr.  Stone's  tavern,  one  mile  from 
the  place  of  the  meeting,  at  the  same  time  that  it  was  in 
progress.  When  I  arrived  at  the  place  where  the  congre- 
gation was  to  convene,  I  called,  found  several  preachers 
present,  and  some  brethren  to  whom  I  related  the  whole 
of  what  was  about  to  transpire.  Some  were  filled  with 
fear.  I  advised  them  to  discover  no  alarm,  but  to  go  on 
composedly  with  their  meeting,  provided  there  should  not 
be  more  than  ten  persons  left,  after  the  rulers  should 
have  sifted  the  audience  in  their  legal  network,  and  to 
pay  no  attention  whatever  to  us  who  were  absent,  except 
to  remember  us  kindly  in  their  prayers  ;  and  away  I  went 
to  stand  in  the  presence  of  authority.  Soon,  however,  I 
was  favored  with  the  company  of  brother  Amos  Bishop,  a 
faithful  minister  of  the  Gospel.    He  came  in  rejoicing  that 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  87 

he  was  counted  worthy  to  suffer  for  Jesus' sake.  Our  trial 
formally  opened  on  Friday  noon,  but  not  much  was  done. 
At  evening  I  obtained  a  room  in  which  to  hold  meeting, 
thinking  that  inasmuch  as  the  legal  process  was  tardy,  the 
ministers  present  could  make  no  better  use  of  their  leisure 
time  than  in  preaching  Christ  to  all  who  would  become 
our  hearers.  Seats  were  prepared,  and  the  neighbors 
flocked  in.  I  then  walked  into  the  somewhat  spacious  bar- 
room to  invite  the  honorable  court  to  attend,  a  body  com- 
posed of  three  magistrates,  viz. :  Pennoyer,  Nichols,  and 
Hyat,  who  were  at  the  time  merrily  passing  the  glass. 
Making  to  them  as  courteous  an  address  as  I  was  capable, 
in  which  I  stated  the  superlative  worth  of  the  religion  of 
Christ  in  the  soul,  I  gave  them  an  invitation  to  be  with  us. 
They  did  not  make  much  reply,  but  stood  by  the  door,  as 
we  learned,  where  they  could  hear  the  communications  of 
the  meeting.  Never  did  we  enjoy  a  more  glorious  time, 
never  did  we  realize  the  divine  presence  more  joyfully 
than  here  under  keepers.  Many  brethren  came  to  see  us, 
their  eyes  filled  with  tears,  whilst  our  hearts  overflowed 
with  joy." 

"  Saturday  morning  I  arose  very  early  and  obtained 
permission  to  visit  my  brethren  at  the  general  meeting  on 
condition  that  I  would  return  at  nine  o'clock.  I  enjoyed 
my  visit  there  ;  but  what  most  affected  me  was  this.  Just 
as  the  sun  had  begun  to  brighten  the  eastern  sky,  after  I 
had  started,  I  met  my  oldest  sister  and  my  brother's  wife, 
who  had  heard  of  ray  bonds,  and  hastened  with  eyes  and 
hearts  full  of  sympathetic  concern  for  my  welfare.  They 
had  arrived  at  the  place  the  night  previous,  and  were  at 
that  early  hour  hastening  to  the  lodgings  of  their  poor 
brother  Joseph  in  afflictions.  When  I  saw  them  I  could 
not  refrain  from  tears.  They  brought  me  money  and 
articles  of  clothing,  which  were  acceptable  to  me  at  that 


8S  MEMOIR    of 

time.     They  tarried  tliroiigli  the  meeting  and  returned 
home." 

•'  At  ten  o'clock  the  court  sat,  and  the  whole  scene  to- 
gether was  one  at  which  the  student  of  human  nature  might 
have  sat  with  amusement,  scorn,  edification,  and  pity. 
False  witnesses  arose  as  in  ancient  days.  I  say  false  wit- 
nesses, because  they  proved  so  before  the  court.  They 
stated  that  we  had  opposed  our  brethren  in  bearing  arms, 
that  we  had  spoken  diminutively  of  the  British  king,  topics  . 
on  which  the  public  speakers  present  had  been  silent. 
Finally,  at  the  close  we  were  bound  over  for  our  appearance 
at  court,  which  sat  at  the  Three  Rivers,  and  only  twenty- 
five  minutes  were  granted  us  in  which  to  procure  bonds- 
men. This  we  utterly  declined  doing.  I  told  them  that  I 
knew  the  character  of  the  cause  in  which  I  was  called  to 
suffer ;  that  for  me  the  Stone  Jug  had  no  terrors,  antl  that 
if  I  must  occupy  its  walls,  I  should  trust  that  the  same 
God  who  heard  Paul's  prayers  and  songs  at  midnight, 
would  also  be  my  friend.  At  this  a  captain  was  ordered 
to  take  charge  of  me.  Bishop  answered  rather  independ- 
ently, and  asked  Esq.  P.  to  be  his  bondsman,  but  at  length 
informed  them  that  he  despised  their  power.  At  this  we 
were  companions.  Many  present  who  were  at  first  our 
enemies,  came  to  me  in  tears,  and  offered  to  be  our  bonds- 
men. A  captain  who  had  carefully  observed  all  that  had 
transpired,  came  and  offered  to  pledge  his  farm  for  me.  At 
this,  sympathy  became  contagious,  and  the  spectators,  who 
had  thus  far  been  watchfully  silent,  began  to  damn  the 
squires,  two  of  whom  were  now  observed  to  stagger,  having 
taken  too  much  whiskey  to  retain  a  respectable  command 
of  their  persons.  One  of  them  took  me  aside,  told  me  that 
he  found  no  cause  against  me,  that  it  was  the  others  who 
had  caused  them  to  bind  me  over,  that  he  had  always  been 
my  friend,  and  would  attend  meeting  the  next  day.     The 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  89 

poor  fellow  fell  from  his  horse  on  the  way  home,  and  broke 
his  shoulder,  which  for  weeks  prevented  bim  from  leaving 
his  house.  P^sq  P.  the  following  day  was  found  in  tlie  road 
drunk;  and* thus  ended  the  suit.  These  events  w-ere  not 
ineffectual  Our  keepers,  on  seeing  the  agitation  of  the 
people,  and  the  increase  of  our  friends,  on  Monday  morn- 
ing, by  the  advice  of  Captain  Ward,  dismissed  us,  and  told 
us  to  go  about  our  business.  This  was  a  day  of  glad  news 
to  the  brethren,  who  in  trembling  fear  and  faith,  had  borne 
us  in  their  prayers  to  the  Invisible  King  ;  and  now  liaving 
a  little  leisure,  I  improved  it  in  visiting  my  i'riends  at 
Compton.  I  had  not  seen  my  father's  house  for  months. 
I  spent  some  time  with  them  very  agreeably  —  relived  past 
scenes  in  conversation  —  bade  Uiem  an  affectionate  farewell 
and  again  went  to  Shipton." 

"  In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1813,  when  on  my  return 
from  Shipton,  my  father  sent  me  word  that  unless  I  could 
tarry  several  days,  he  wished  me  to  send  an  appointment 
and  preach  at  his  house.  This  to  me  was  welcome  tidings, 
as  I  had  long  been  waiting  with  hopeful  anxiety  for  this 
opportunity  to  open.  I  sent  an  a|)pointment,  which  Ifeon 
spread  over  the  town.  No  travelling  minister  had  at  this 
time  ever  preached  at  my  father's  house,  and  a  large  mul- 
titude assembled,  probably  under  the  impression  that  there 
^'as  something  new  in  the  circumstance.  Oh,  how  solemn, 
how  memorable  the  scene !  I  had  long  been  absent  from 
home  among  strangers,  had  passed  through  a  trying 
experience  in  which  friendship  and  hatred  had  largely 
commingled,  and  now,  at  the  invitation  of  a  kind  father,  I 
stood  amidst  my  relatives,  brethren  and  old  acquaintances, 
to  speak  freely  on  whatever  I  felt  to  be  dear  to  the  hope 
and  salvation  of  man.  1  spoke  from  Mark  5:19.  'Go 
home  to  thy  friends,  and  tell  them  how  great  things  the 
Lord  hath  done  for  thee,  and  hath  had  compassion  on 


90  MEMOIR    OF 

tliee.'  After  the  assembly  had  dispersed,  my  father  and 
myself  spent  a  great  part  of  the  night  in  conversation  on 
the  things  of  the  kingdom,  in  which  he  rather  favored  the 
doctrine  of  Universalism.  I  had  an  agreeable  visit  of  a 
few  days,  and  went  rejoicing  on  my  way.  I  name  these 
circumstances  as  they  belong  to  the  time  I  first  preached 
at  my  father's  house." 

"At  Shipton  and  vicinity,  we  had  through  the  fall  and 
first  part  of  the  winter,  golden  seasons,  and  many  were 
added  to  the  church  of  God.  Party  rage  seemed  to  die 
away,  and  persecution  greatly  subsided.  I  now  began  to 
feel  a  dismission,  so  far  as  my  labors  and  responsibilities 
were  related  to  this  region  of  country ;  and  in  casting  my 
eye  over  the  world  as  my  lawful  field,  I  longed  to  visit 
other  lands,  and  carry  to  distant  parts  the  unsectarian  mes- 
sage of  Repentance,  Faith,  and  Love.  During  the  winter 
I  made  several  visits  at  Stanstead,  a  town  lying  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  Lake  Memphremagog,  where  I  saw  a  few 
persons  converted,  and  where,  with  the  saints  of  the  Most 
High,  I  took  sweet  counsel.  Also  had  many  useful  meet- 
ing?in  my  father's  vicinity." 

"  Li  the  spring  of  1814  I  found  my  health  exceedingly 
poor.  Many  thought  I  was  inclining  to  the  consumption. 
As  the  roads  were  exceedingly  bad  in  the  spring  season 
throughout  the  province,  I  resolved  to  make  but  one  gen-j| 
era!  visit  in  each  particular  place  where  I  had  preached, 
unless  particular  impression  should  otherwise  direct  me, 
and  then  journey  to  the  land  of  my  nativity,  to  the  New 
England  sea-coast,  around  which  my  feelings  of  friendship 
and  reverence  warmly  clustered,  almost  taking  in  the 
scenery  of  New  England  as  a  vital  part  of  my  filial  feelings. 
Accordingly,  as  soon  as  the  going  became  settled,  I  started 
on  my  farewell  visits  through  the  North  country.  Hun- 
dreds flocked  together  in  the  several   towns  where  my 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  91 

appointments  had  been  sent,  to  hear  my  farewell  dis- 
courses ;  and  unegotistically  do  I  record  the  simple  fact 
that  my  audiences  wept  as  I  told  them  my  work  with 
them  was  done,  and  that  in  other  lands  I  must  go  and 
jDublish  the  same  salvation  in  which  they  rejoiced.  Many 
said,  from  the  poor  health  I  was  in,  they  were  satisfied 
they  should  never  see  me  again.  This  was  indeed  a 
solemn  time  to  me.  I  made  my  intended  visit,  and  left 
Shipton  on  the  5tli  of  June.  Many  of  the  aged  saints  and 
the  warm-hearted  young  people  came  together  at  an  early 
hour  in  the  morning  to  bid  me  adieu.  When  ready  to 
leave,  I  sung  a  few  verses  of  a  missionary  hymn,  which 
thus  commences: 

"  •  Farewell,  my  brethren  in  the  Lord  ! 
The  Gospel  sounds  the  Jubilee; 
My  stammering  tongue  shall  sound  aloud, 
From  land  to  land,  from  sea  to  sea.' 

Some  united  in  the  song,  others  were  prevented  by  the 
fulness  of  their  emotion.  At  the  close,  we  kneeled  to- 
gether in  prayer ;  and  it  was  with  a  heavy  heart  that  I 
offered  to  them  my  parting  hand.  Never  can  I  forget  the 
kindness  and  friendship  of  this  people.  They  contributed 
largely  to  my  necessities,  welcomed  me  to  their  homes, 
and  upheld,  with  their  prayers,  my  feeble  hands.  Return- 
ing to  spend  a  few  days  at  my  father's  house,  I  found  on 
parting,  the  strength  of  the  social  and  filial  ties  that  bind 
the  heart  of  man  to  its  home.  When,  after  prayer,  I  gave 
my  hand  to  my  father,  he  could  only  utter  '  God  bless  you,' 
such  were  his  emotions,  and  a  wordless  silence,  accompa 
nied  by  tears,  was  my  mother's  benediction.  When  I  rode 
away,  I  felt  myself  dead  to  every  earthly  prospect,  to  every 
worldly  enjoyment,  and  from  the  dearest  friends  on  earth 
cut  oflP.  Yet  there  was  a  holy  sunshine  falling  down  upon 
my  clouds,   that  gave  to  my  sinking  spirit  its  needful 


92  MEMOIR    OF 

consolation.  It  is  usually  thought  that  the  situation  of  a 
youth  cut  off  from  his  friends  is  a  trying  one,  especially 
so  if  called  to  the  ministry.  It  is  not  only  in  parting  with 
friends  and  in  renouncing  worldly  prospects,  that  the  spirit 
is  tried  ;  the  life  of  a  missionary,  who  is  a  man  of  God  and 
faithful,  is  exposed  to  a  thousand  sufferings  and  dangers. 
Missionaries  often  go  forth  as  the  chosen  organs  of  differ- 
ent denominations,  whose  denominational  interests  they 
plead,  and  from  whom  they  receive  a  pledged  support.  I 
had  aspired  to  he  a  missionary  of  another  school,  a  mis- 
sionary to  men  and  wot  from  men,  having  only  the  Gospel 
of  the  world's  salvation  to  uphokl,  looking  on  high  for  the. 
mission,  and  to  the  just  and  careful  operations  of  His  pro- 
vidence for  all  necessary  support.  For  one  so  conditioned 
to  c(msider  the  awful  and  immense  responsibility  lie  assumes 
before  God,  to  think  of  the  account  he  must  soon  render  of 
bis  steward  hip,  is  enough  to  humble  him  in  the  dust.  Yet 
when,  on  the  other  hand,  the  faithful  minister  has  a  view 
of  the  everlasting  inheritance  that  appears  to  the  eye  of 
faith,  from  the  future  compensations  of  His  love,  he  can 
say,  with  the  great  missionary  of  the  Gentiles,  '  I  reckon 
that  the  sufferings  of  this  present  time  are  not  worthy  to 
be  compared  with  the  glory*  which  shall  be  revealed  in 
us.'  Perhaps  this  contemplation  is  not  capable  of  a 
statement  more  just  than  that  which  it  finds  in  the  olden 
words  : 

** '  What  contradictions  meet 

In  ministers'  employ  ; 
It  is  a  bitter  sweet, 

A  sorrow  full  of" joy. 
No  other  post  affords  the  place 
For  equal  honor  and  disgrace.'  " 

With  these  lines  the  nobly  expressed  narrative  of 
Mr.  B.,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  his  early  ministerial 
labors  in  the  Province,  closes.     A  few  other  docu- 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  93 

ments  lie  before  me,  several  letters  from  the  hand  of 
Mr.  Z.  Adams,  his  colleague  for  a  time  in  the  labors 
and  trials  of  his  early  ministrations,  several  letters  of 
commendation  from  churches  ^vith  Avhom  he  had 
labored,  and  from  influential  ministers  with  whom  he 
had  associated.  These  letters  from  Mr.  A,,  though 
wearing  the  sallow  impress  of  time  on  their  forms,  are 
fresh  with  the  ardor  and  devotedncss  of  what  never 
grows  old,  the  earnest  heart ;  and  what  is  peculiar  to 
all  these  letters  from  the  churches  is  this,  that,  after 
the  usual  commendatory  expressions  relative  to  moral 
and  Christian  character,  they  invariably  speak  of  the 
success  of  his  ministry  among  the  people.  There  are 
also  a  few  letters  from  him  to  his  flxther  and  brothers, 
written  during  the  period  of  his  ministerial  labors  of 
1813-14,  that  are  unfeignedly  rich  in  the  spirit  of 
self-sacrifice,  firm  faith  in  his  mission,  and  a  fine  feeling 
of  love  and  kindness  to  all  his  relatives,  a  quality 
flowing  through  all  the  correspondence  I  have  seen, 
addressed  to  relatives.  A  long  catalogue  of  names, 
dated  Dec.  20,  1813,  shows  the  number  of  persons  in 
difierent  towns  who  were  converted  under  his  ministry  ; 
and  though  the  evidences  at  hand  indicate  for  them  a 
general  stability  of  principle  and  aim,  one  name,  from 
the  first  column,  must  appear  to  great  disadvantage  in 
a  future  chapter,  for  it  would  be  equal  to  a  hunting 
excursion  in  the  forests  of  antiquity,  to  find  in  any 
country  a  more  unreasonable  persecutor,  on  a  limited 
scale,  than  was  Capt.  Moor,  in  the  month  of  Septem- 
ber, 1815. 

Joseph  Badger  was  a  man  who  could  never  endure 
dulness.     Lifelessness  and  inactivity,  in  fine,  all  the 


94  MEMOIR    OF 

brood  of  stupid  demons,  lie  had  a  magical  power  to 
disperse.  They  fled  at  his  entrance.  He  icould 
have  life  and  interest,  and  no  man  could  better  create 
them,  by  awakening  readily  the  resources  of  all 
around  him.  Thus  far  we  only  see  the  young  man  of 
twenty,  but  the  same  inherent  traits  of  his  whole  life 
are  conspicuous.  He  awakens  community  wherever 
he  goes.  He  calls  out  opposition,  creates  strong 
friends  and  enemies,  concentrates  attention,  brings 
himself  into  trying  emergencies,  which  call  out  his 
various  facility  of  tact  and  successful  management,  his 
firmness  and  self-composure.  Having  set  his  mind 
and  heart  on  the  persuasion  of  men  to  repent  and  to 
seek  salvation,  he  carries  a  multitude  along  to  this 
end.  But  what  is  most  rich,  is  the  deep  evangelical 
element,  in  which  all  his  powers  are  immersed ;  his 
constant,  prayerful,  weeping  solicitude  for  souls.  I 
know  not  where  to  go  to  find  these  holy  elements  in  a 
more  abundant,  pure,  and  I  will  add,  in  a  more  natural 
state,  than  they  appear  in  Mr.  Badger's  early  life. 
His  enthusiasm  was  not  rash  or  fanatical.  The  fire  of 
his  heart  blended  with  the  lidit  of  his  brain.  His  eye 
was  always  as  calm  as  it  was  penetrating.  It  combined 
the  glow  and  the  calmness  of  the  night-star.  Almost 
at  the  risk  of  presenting  too  much  of  a  good  thing,  I 
venture  to  quote  a  mere  fraction  of  some  of  these 
letters,  each  line  of  which  is  so  fully  alive  with  the 
sincerity  and  earnest  faith  of  the  writer. 

''  Shipton,  May  11th,  1813. 
"  Dear  Parents,  —  I  assure  you  it  is  with  pleasure  I 
once  more  attempt  to  write  you.     I  arrived  on  May  the 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  95 

Gth,  very  much  fatigued.  I  walked  twenty-one  miles 
without  refreshment,  which  was  too  much  for  my  nature. 
I  was  nibble  to  preach  for  some  days.  My  greatest  pain 
was  to  see  the  inroads  made  by  the  enemy  into  our  little 
church  whilst  I  was  absent,  and  the  spirit  of  persecution 
that  rankles  in  many  hearts.  As  I  view  souls  united  to 
eternity,  and  see  that  some  are  hewing  out  to  themselves 
*  broken  cisterns,'  and  giving  way  to  'seducing  spirits,' 
in  the  doctrine,  '  Ye  shall  not  surely  die,'  I  am  led  to 
mourn." 

"  It  is  surprising  to  view  the  beauties  of  creation,  in 
which  we  see  how  everything  is  formed  for  the  use  and 
comfort  of  man.  Yet  how  sadly  they  abuse  the  great 
profusion  of  His  blessing.  '  What  more  could  He  have 
done  for  His  vineyard  than  He  hath  done  for  it?' — Isaiah 
5  :  4.  Whilst  I  meditate  on  the  extent  of  His  goodness 
and  long  suffering,  on  the  cross  of  Him  who  died  for  all, 
and  then  think  of  the  wickedness  that  abounds,  I  am 
obliged  to  mourn.  Oh  my  loving  parents,  may  we  be 
wise  for  both  worlds,  for  time  and  for  eternity!  I  have 
had  serious  thoughts  of  late  why  it  was  tliat  my  father 
did  not  write  to  me.  As  I  am  here  in  the  wilderness 
without  any  relatives  or  connections,  I  thought  that  love 
for  me  would  have  led  him  to  seek  my  enlightenment  if  I 
am  in  darkness,  he  being  acquainted  with  the  Scriptures; 
and  if  I  am  right,  I  thought  he  -would  wish  to  give  me 
encouragement.     My  love  to  all  for  their  kindness. 

"  Your  prayerful  servant,  J.  Badger." 

"  Stanstead,  July  16,  1814. 

'^  Dear  Father,  —  According  to  my  expectation  when 

at  your  house.  I  started  on  my  journey  to  the  southward, 

preaching  on  my  way;    Friday  at  Derby,  Saturday  at 

Holland,  Sunday  at  Major  Stewart's,  in  Morgan,  w-here  I 


96  MEMOIR    OF 

met  a  large  concourse  of  people,  among  whom  were  eleven 
young  persons  from  Derby,  who  were  deeply  awakened  to 
a  sense  of  their  danger  whilst  out  of  Christ,  ^o  their 
ardent  solicitation  for  me  to  return  to  Derby,  I  have 
yielded,  which  makes  it  expe'dient  for  me  to  tarry  one 
week  more.  I  do  not  enjoy  very  good  health,  but  my 
mind  is  happy.  I  feel  that  at  most  a  few  more  rolling 
suns  will  bring  me  to  the  fair  city  of  llest.  Each  beating 
pulse  but  leaves  the  number  less.  Had  I  time  I  would 
gladly  ride  to  Compton  to  see  you.  But  it  is  wholly  un- 
certain when  we  again  shall  meet.  I  ofttimes  think  of 
you  all.     My  love  to  relatives  and  inquiring  friends. 

"  '  From  all  that's  mortal,  all  that's  vain, 
And  from  this  earthiy  clod, 
Arise,  my  soul,  and  strive  to  gain 
Sweet  fellowship  with  God.' 

*'  I  subscribe  myself  a  Disciple  of  Christ,  or  a  Friend  to 
Mankind. 

"J.  Badger." 

''AscOTT,  July  27,  1813.  (In  haste.) 
"Dear  Brother,* — Since  I  have  seen  you  I  have 
preached  in  Compton,  Ascott,  Westbury,  Oxford,  Bromp- 
ton,  Ringsey,  Shipton.  I  am  in  great  haste  on  my  return. 
I  have  been  comfortable  as  to  health,  though  much  fa- 
tigued. I  have  felt  the  waters  of  salvation  to  flow  sweetly 
through  my  soul.  Give  yourself  no  trouble  if  you  hear  I 
am  taken  up.  You  know  the  animosities  that  war  engen- 
ders. The  God  who  delivered  Daniel,  and  who  protected 
our  fathers,  has  promised  to  shield  me  whilst  in  the  way 
of  my  duty.  Keep  free  from  all  strife,  deny  self,  live  in 
peace  with  all  men.     I  still  feel  it  my  duty  to  employ  all 

*  *  His  brother,  Peaslee  Badger. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  97 

my  abilities  in  holding  up  Christ  to  a  dying  world.     My 
love  to  parents  and  bretliren." 

These  extracts  show  the  spirit  with  which  his  whole 
early  life  was  imbued,  and  they  accord  well  with  the 
journal  he  wrote  a  few  years  later.  One  vital  life 
pervades  them  all.  Whilst  the  war  was  desolating 
the  country,  filling  the  minds  of  men  with  anger, 
jealousy,  and  irreverence  to  humanity,  he,  the  heroic 
young  soldier  of  the  Cross,  was  successfully  pouring 
into  their  hearts  the  great  lessons  of  Reformation, 
Unity,  and  Peace.  Such  a  ministry  at  such  a  time 
appears  to  the  eye  of  history  as  a  Rainbow  arching 
the  black  region  of  cloud  and  storm,  or  as  life- clad 
rivers  that  flow  along  through  the  desert  regions  of  the 
earth. 


CHAPTER    YII. 


TOUR  TO  NEW  ENGLAND,  AND  PUBLIC  LABORS. 

With  good  recommendations,  and  with  the  fruits  of 
a  not  very  ordinary  experience  for  one  so  young,  he 
starts  for  his  native  land.  What  sect  does  the  young 
preacher  hail  from  ?  From  no  sect.  He  hails  from 
the  church  of  experienced  believers,  whose  test  is 
religion,  not  theology.  Love  to  God  and  peace  with 
men  are  the  cardinals  of  his  platform,  and  such  was 
the  persuasion  of  his  eye  and  presence,  that  his  creden- 
5 


98  MEMOm   OF 

tials  are  very  seldom  disputed.  Nothing  in  the  form 
of  sectarianism  hedges  up  his  way  or  impedes  his  suc- 
cess. If  difficulties  at  any  time  thicken  in  his  path,  he 
knows  what  to  do  with  them. 

Let  us  pause  a  moment  to  look  at  the  theological 
latitudes  and  longitudes  of  the  self-taught  young  man 
at  this  time,  before  he  leaves  to  carry  his  message 
towards  the  regions  of  sunrise  in  the  more  intelligent 
east.  In  theology  he  has  acknowledged  no  human 
master,  has  sat  at  the  feet  of  no  Edwards,  Channing, 
or  Wesley,  nor  read  in  musty  dogmatical  lore  what  he 
shall  publish  as  the  essential  doctrine.  The  following 
views,  however,  may  be  gathered  from  the  various 
utterance  of  his  mind,  expressed  as  occasion  called, 
without  the  intention  of  making  a  system.  1.  That 
man  bears  a  living  relation  to  God  ;  that  he  may  now 
as  of  old  come  to  him  confidingly,  and  seek  effectually 
for  wisdom  and  salvation.  2.  That  the  being  of  God 
is  One  ;  that  his  influences  are  constantly  felt  in  the 
moral  world,  promoting  the  joy  and  life  of  his  people, 
and  subjecting  the  sinful  to  the  solemn  conviction  of 
their  sin  and  danger.  3.  That  Regeneration  is  the 
want  of  all  men ;  that  all  may,  like  the  prodigal  of 
Scripture  memory,  return  to  their  Sovereign  Father. 
4.  That  the  Scriptures  are  the  great  storehouse  of 
sacred  wisdom ;  that  through  them  the  will  of  God  is 
infallibly  revealed.  5.  That  Jesus  is  "  the  sinner's 
friend,"  the  Son  of  God,  the  centre  of  Christianity, 
and  that  his  Gospel  is  of  celestial  birth  and  mission  ; 
"  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to  all  that  believe." 
6.  That  experience  is  the  basis  of  religion ;  that  the 
only  authorized  test  of  fellowship  for  the  church  is 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  99 

Christian  character.  7.  That  no  sect  in  Christendom, 
as  such,  is  t?ie  church  of  God;  that  the  church  is 
everywhere  composed  of  such  only  as  have  passed  from 
death  unto  life.  8.  That  sectarian  names^do  not  fit 
the  catholicity  of  the  institution ;  that  the  names 
"  disciples,"  '^  brethren,"  "  friends,"  "  Christians," 
are  the  better  designations.  0.  That  human  creeds, 
traditions,  "  doctrines  and  commandments  of  men," 
are  abolished  in  the  light  and  authority  of  the  Gospel. 
10.  That  sons  of  God  are  freemen,  owing  no  allegiance 
to  Pope,  Bishop,  Prelate,  or  Council.  These  views  all 
fairly  reside  in  the  writings  w^hich  unfold  this  early 
period  of  his  life  ;  and  when  we  consider  the  exceeding 
scarcity  of  liberal  thought  in  the  religious  world  at  so 
early  a  day,  and  the  isolation  of  his  position  from  the 
most  active  and  enlightened  minds  on  the  continent,  his 
stand  in  the  church  and  the  world  becomes  a  wonder, 
only  to  be  solved  by  the  recognition  of  the  original  and 
superior  intellect  that  gave  him  intuitive  insight  into 
the  right  and  wrong  of  whatever  problems  may  have 
won  his  earnest  attention.  The  liberahty  of  many  is 
but  a  mere  scepticism  of  thought.  His  liberality  was 
a  part  of  the  most  devoted  labor  and  unabated  zeal. 
It  was  one  with  prayer  and  tears.  Now,^  in  this  last 
day,  (1854,)  with  all  that  learning  and  comprehensive 
thinking  have  done  for  us,  where  and  what  are  the 
heights  of  liberality  occupied  by  the  theological  reform- 
ers whose  names  have  gone  abroad  as  being  wider  than 
their  denominational  platform  ?  As  we  glance  along 
the  sparse  population  of  these  plateaux,  we  observe 
among  others,  the  names  of  Bushnell  and  Beecher,  the 
former  with  certain  acute   philosophical  powers,  the 


100  MEMOIR   OF 

latter  with  a  bold  dramatic  energy  of  speech,  each 
exposing  himself  in  a  degree  to  the  censure  of  that 
large  class  who  dread  all  innovation  made  upon  the  time- 
honored  landmarks  of  the  Fathers,  who  are  alarmed  at 
new  roads,  even  though  they  are  more  direct,  conve- 
nient, and  comely.  But  neither  of  these  gentlemen  has 
gone  so  far  as  did  this  youth  in  the  wilderness  of  his 
adopted  country.  Neither  has  altogether  'practically 
forgotten  the  claims  of  sect  and  of  creed  ;  and  the  view 
that  holiness  of  life  and  purpose  is  the  indisputable 
claim  to  fraternity  independent  of  dogma,  which  is 
their  highest  idea^  was  his  constantly  pvacthed  principle 
long  before  the  world  had  heard  of  new  and  old  school 
in  the  contentions  of  orthodox  sects.  Open  now  his 
first  letters  of  commendation  and  you  will  sec  that  the 
fraternities  that  authorized  them  ignored  sectarian 
names,  simply  styling  themselves  "  The  Church  of  God 
in  this  place."  In  lib.erality,  I  do  not  see  that  the 
best  part  of  the  Christian  world  now  are,  either  in 
theory  or  practice,  at  all  in  advance  of  his  position  in 
1813.  That  his  peace  principles  did  not  allow  him  to 
pray  for  bloody  victories,  or  to  strengthen  the  king's 
arms  by  his  influence  over  the  people,  there  is  pretty 
good  evidence.  He  and  his  brethren  drank  too  deeply 
at  the  wells  of  religion  to  engage  in  the  destruction  of 
their  fellows. 

To  return.  The  young  man,  now  nearly  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  intent  on  the  duties  and  trials  of  a  mis- 
sionary life,  starts  for  his  native  New  Hampshire, 
improving  every  opportunity  on  the  way,  where  circum- 
stances united  with  his  own  impressions  in  producing 
the  conviction  that   good  might  be   done.     Without 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  101 

abating  his  own  labor,  he  depends  contmuallj  on  divine 
assistance,  believing  that  he  enjoys  the  advantage  of 
the  real  presence  of  the  One  who  said,  "  Lo  !  I  am 
with  you  alway ; "  and  before  undertaking  any  im- 
portant cause,  or  plan  of  action,  he  seeks  illumination 
in  secret  prayer,  then  follows  the  leading  impressions  of 
his  mind.  He  diligently  studies  the  Scriptures,  ob- 
serves nature,  and  discriminates  the  strong  points  and 
peculiarities  of  the  different  characters  he  meets,  for 
which  he  seemed  to  possess  an  intuitive  power  that 
received  no  assistance  from  the  later  inductions  of 
phrenology,  or  the  didactic  lessons  of  physiognomy. 
He  could,  without  rules  admitting  of  statement,  readily 
discern  the  character  of  an  audience,  the  kind  of  dis- 
course fitted  to  their  capacity  and  w^ants,  and  most 
easily  did  he  arrive  at  this  kind  of  knowledge  by  a 
brief  social  contact  with  individuals.  No  nature  per- 
haps ever  had  a  greater  power  of  adaptability  to  the 
many-phased  character  of  mankind  and  surrounding 
circumstances,  than  his.  But  for  the  present,  indeed 
for  the  several  years  of  his  early  ministry,  the  central 
element  of  his  life,  the  one  that  ruled  all  others,  was 
his  earnest,  hearty,  prayerful  devotion  to  the  holy  mis- 
sion of  saving  human  beings  from  sin,  and  of  bringing 
them  into  living  union  with  God  and  with  Christ. 
Along  the  meanderings  of  this  current  let  us  therefore 
follow  the  course  of  his  narrative,  which  at  this  time 
unfolds  itself  in  a  series  of  letters,  hastily  and  unelab- 
orately  written  to  some  friend  whose  name  does  not 
appear ;  perhaps  to  Z.  Adams,  or  to  some  other  young 
minister  interested  in  his  welfare. 


102  MEMOIR    OF 

**  Dear  Friend,  —  I  rode  from  Stanstead,  where  I 
had  enjoyed  several  good  meetings,  across  the  line  into 
the  State  of  Vermont,  where  I  had  several  more  in  Derby, 
Holland,  and  Morgan,  but  soon  returned  to  a  little  village 
on  the  line,  and  on  Stanstead  Plain,  where  there  were 
prospects  of  good  being  done.  It  was  here  that  I  met 
Mr.  Roswell  Bates,  who  became  my  company,  as  he  was 
going  to  the  town  of  Woodstock.  Leaving  the  line  about 
July  the  16th,  we  passed  through  Rigah,  Browning,  and 
Wheelock,  holding  several  meetings  at  the  last  named 
town,  in  which  the  spirits  of  many  appeared  to  gather 
new  courage  and  joy.  I  then  rode  to  Danville,  and 
remained  several  days,  in  which  time  I  had  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  some  who  had  been  for  months  cold  in  their 
affections,  quickened  and  newly  determined  in  the  cause 
of  life.  We  then  rode  to  Peacham,  then  to  Newbury, 
Bradford,  and  Corinth,  where  we  separated,  Mr.  B.  going 
to  Hafford  and  I  to  Strafford.  Here  I  was  greeted  by 
a  happy  band  of  brethren,  with  whom  I  held  several 
meetings,  and  remained  several  days.  Crossing  the 
Connecticut  river  over  into  Lyme,  thence  through  Dor- 
chester to  Hebron,  thence  to  Bridgewater,  I  arrived  next 
morning,  which  was  Sunday,  at  New  Hampton,  and  was 
kindly  received  by  Wm.  B.  Kelley,  Esq.,  a  distant  rela- 
tive, by  whom  I  was  politely  introduced  to  the  clergyman 
of  the  place.  With  him  I  passed  a  half  hour  very 
pleasantly ;  we  repaired  to  the  church  together,  as  the 
people  began  to  assemble.  I  occupied  with  him  a  seat 
m  the  desk,  and  listened  with  a  degree  of  satisfaction  to 
what  he  communicated.  When  we  returned  to  his  house, 
he  insisted  on  my  speaking  in  the  afternoon,  and  in  vain 
did  I  urge  the  excuses  of  a  long  journey  and  much 
fatigue.  He  gave  me  a  Bible  and  a  Concordance,  saying 
that  I  had  three  quarters  of  an  hour  in  which  to  prepare, 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  103 

and  left  the  room.  We  again  repaired  to  the  church,  and 
contrary  to  the  order  of  the  morning,  I  was  assigned  the 
right-hand  place  in  the  pulpit.  I  spoke  to  these  strangers 
in  the  same  freedom  to  Avhich  I  had  ever  been  accus- 
tomed, and  reserved  nothing  of  the  divine  counsel  made 
known  unto  me ;  the  word  seemed  to  have  some  direct 
effect ;  the  people  appeared  to  hang  with  solicitude  on 
the  truths  advanced,  and  many  wept  under  the  exhibition 
of  the  love  and  pardoning  grace  of  Jesus  Christ.  The 
next  day  I  heard  a  young  man,  Mr.  John  Swett,  who, 
much  to  my  joy,  was  wholly  engaged  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord  —  a  work  already  commenced  under  his  labors.  At 
the  request  of  my  friends,  I  gave  out  an  appointment,  at 
which  there  were  three  ministers,  Mr.  Ilillard,  the  aged 
priest  to  whom  I  had  been  at  first  introduced,  Mr.  Daney, 
whom  I  had  never  before  seen,  and  Mr.  Swett,  my  new 
acquaintance.  I  scarcely  ever  found  greater  liberty  in 
speaking.  Priest  Ilillard  at  the  close  arose  and  gave  me 
his  approbation,  inviting  me  again  to  call  on  him  ;  others 
also  spoke  on  the  goodness  of  God,  as  experienced  by 
them.  Bidding  them  an  affectionate  farewell,  I  was,  in 
about  four  hours,  at  my  native  Gilmanton,  whose  citizens 
and  scenes  I  had  not  known  for  the  space  of  four  years." 
"  Here  I  had  great  joy,  mingled  with  sorrow  — joy  to 
meet  my  sister,  Mrs.  Cogswell,  and  other  relatives  ;  sor- 
row to  learn  that  in  their  plans  of  happiness,  religion  and 
reconciliation  to  God  were  not  the  essential  part.  Capt. 
C,  who  did  not  usually  go  to  the  Free  Church,  wished 
me  to  permit  him  to  make  an  appointment  in  that  place, 
to  which  I  gave  consent.  Accordingly,  on  the  next 
Lord's  day,  at  half-past  ten  o'clock,  I  met  a  large  congre- 
gation at  the  Free  Church ;  and  at  five  o'clock,  P.  M., 
spoke  to  a  full  assembly  at  the  house  of  Capt.  Cogswell, 
each  audience  being  probably  attracted  in  part  by  curios- 


104  MEMOIR    OP 

ity.  At  the  former  meeting,  my  mind  was  constrained  to 
weep  over  the  people,  who  also  wept  under  the  message 
I  delivered  them.  Many  serious  exhortations  were 
given ;  many  expressed  the  fulness  of  their  joy  in  Christ. 
Wishing  to  see  men  and  women  stand  upon  some  positive 
decisions  in  regard  to  their  salvation,  and  knowing  the 
good  influence  which  a  public  expression  of  secret  resolves 
has  upon  the  subsequent  action  of  man,  I  proposed  that 
such  of  the  assembly  as  felt  the  worth  of  religion,  and 
desired  to  enjoy  its  heavenly  light  and  consolation,  would 
signify  the  state  of  their  minds  by  rising  up.  Very  few 
kept  their  seats  ;  and  I  have  reason  to  think  that  many 
were  strengthened  for  life.  Many  invitations  were  given 
me  for  new  appointments.  At  5  o'clock  at  Capt.  C.'s, 
there  were  many  Calvinists  present,  who  with  the  rest, 
seemed  to  mingle  with  their  critical  aspect  considerable 
true  religious  feeling.'  Perhaps  my  preaching  called  out 
more  criticism  than  it  would  otlierwise  have  done,  on 
account  of  my  manner  being  wholly  extemporaneous,  and 
m^  sentiments  not  being  formed  from  Calvin  or  any 
sectarian  creed.  My  grandmother*  was  present;  she 
seemed  much  pleased,  and  after  meeting  said  to  me,  '  It 
is  a  wonder  and  a  mystery  to  me  how  you  talk  as  you  do 
without  having  any  of  it  written.  Two  of  my  family 
have  got  to  be  preachers,  William  C.  and  yourself.  He 
learned  to  preach  at  the  institution,  but  who  in  the  world 
ever  learned  you  up  there  in  Canada?  '  I  believe  I  told 
her  that  the  Being  who  needed  ministers  had  much  to  do 
in  making  them,  which  seemed  to  be  a  new  idea  in  these 
parts." 

"  I  then  went  to  New  Durham  to  visit  my  relatives, 
but  spoke  frequently  before    my  return.     On   my   way 

*  The  one  that  coerced  him  to  pray  when  a  child. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  105 

back,  at  a  very  good  meeting  about  two  miles  from  the 
place  of  my  other  appointments  in  the  town,  a  young  lady 
whom  I  baptized  in  February  of  the  next  year,  was  there 
permanently  and  effectually  impressed  with  the  need  of 
salvation  through  Christ.  She  continued  from  that  time 
to  be  drawn  into  nearness  and  union  with  Jesus,  whose 
power  over  the  heart  no  one  can  measure.  After  this 
meeting  I  returned  to  Gilmanton.  As  my  sister  was 
somewhat  out  of  health,  and  travelling  was  recommended 
£^  her  best  restorative,  I  favored  her  desires  to  visit  her 
parents  in  Canada,  whom  she  had  not  seen  for  six  years  : 
and  taking  a  carriage  suited  to  the  journey,  conveyed  her 
to  my  father's  house  in  Compton.  Our  parents  were 
overjoyed  to  see  us.  The  next  morning  early  I  returned 
to  the  States,  rode  to  Glover,  Grecnsborough,  and  Mont- 
pelier,  attended  a  quarterly  meeting,  with  several  other 
appointments,  and  returned  to  the  Province  in  about 
seven  days.  Meeting  my  sister  at  Stanstead,  where  my 
elder  brother  according  to  agreement  had  brought  her, 
I  again  set  out  for  Gilmanton,  wdiere  I  arrived  after  an 
absence  of  about  four  weeks.  On  my  way  east  I  passed 
through  Cabot  and  Danville,  where  I  held  several  meet- 
ings ;  but  when  passing  through  New  Hampton  I  met 
Rev.  Mr.  Ilillard,  who  informed  me  that  he  intended  to 
go  to  Toronto  to  preach,  and  should  be  happy  to  have  me 
supply  at  his  church  during  his  absence.  I  accordingly 
left  an  appointment." 

"  Here,  my  dear  friend,  you  have  a  brief  account  of 
my  journeyings  for  the  space  of  two  months  and  a  few 
days,  in  which  time  I  have  travelled  770  miles.  Here  in 
good  old  New  England  scenes,  I  at  times  revive  the  lights 
and  shades  of  my  early  days,  but  the  work  of  salvation 
is  one  that  overlays  in  interest  all  reverie  of  the  mind, 
and  I  shall  hasten  to  give  you  a  further  account  of  the 
5* 


106  MEMOIR    OF 

Avork  of  God  in  my  next,  hoping  that  from  former  friend- 
ship, my  hasty  letters  will  be  interesting  to  your  delicate 
and  studious  mind. 

"  Yours,  in  the  truth,  J.  Badger. 

''Sept.,  1314." 

Here  I  would  observe,  that  the  manuscript  from 
which  the  events  of  these  several  months  are  chiefly 
known  appears  to  be  copies  of  letters,  several  of  which 
were  addressed  to  one  person,  whose  name  may  hav« 
been  upon  the  outer  leaf  of  the  scroll  at  first,  but  which 
I  do  not  find  in  the  letters  themselves.  As  his  present 
history  is  reflected  in  these,  I  offer  them,  with  all  the 
variety  of  incident  which  a  man  of  his  peculiar  cast 
of  character  would  very  naturally  call  out.  These 
"  scratches,"  as  he  labelled  them,  appear  to  have  been 
kept  as  a  means  of  reenlivening  past  scenes,  should 
he  ever  wish  to  write  their  history. 

"  After  attendin"^  several  meetin^^s  in  Gilmanton,  I  went 
on  to  my  appointment  at  Newhampton,  and  met  a  very 
\iXT"e  congref^ation  who  had  come  out  to  hear  the  new 
preacher.  The  people  thinking  me  a  missionary  direct 
from  college,  readily  swallowed  the  doctrine  of  a  free, 
universal  salvation,  designed  for  and  offered  unto  all  men, 
and  many  rejoiced  in  the  liberal  view  I  presented.  I  felt 
at  this  time,  very  much  the  weight  of  the  cause,  and  spoke 
with  great  freedom  on  the  true  mission  of  the  Gospel  to 
our  lost  world.  It  may  be  thought  by  some  that  courtesy 
should  have  dictated  an  acquiescence  in  the  formality  and 
doctrine  that  reigned  about  me.  But  I  felt  constrained 
to  speak  from  my  own  soul  and  the  word  that  burned  in 
ray  own  heart.     I  did  so.     Many  of  the  silent  kindled 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  107. 

anew  with  ardor,  their  tongues  were  unloosed,  and  some 
praised  God  aloud.  In  the  afternoon  I  had  a  glorious 
time,  concluding  my  sermon  with  the  most  earnest  warn- 
ing to  the  people.  This  change  in  their  accustomed  rou- 
tine for  Sunday  called  out  many  remarks,  some  saying  one 
thing  and  some  another.  One  said,  *  He  preaches  just 
like  a  damned  Frcewillcr,  and  if  Mr.  Ilillard  lets  him  preach 
there  again,  I  will  neither  hear  nor  j)ay  him  in  future.' 
Nevertheless,  I  had  several  invitations  to  preach  again. 
In  the  evening  I  spoke  at  Mr  Kelley's,  to  about  200 
hearers,  on  Monday,  P.  M  ,  at  Lieut.  Sinkter's  school- 
house,  to  an  audience  of  entire  strangers.  In  that  vicinity 
were  many  Freewill  Baptists,  few  of  whom,  however,  saw 
fit  to  attend.  Priest  Ilillard's  deacon  came  to  me  at  the 
close  of  meeting,  with  considerable  emotion,  and  said,  *  I 
know  the  joyful  sound  of  wliich  you  have  spoken.  lam 
satisfied  God  has  called  you  to  preach  the  Gospel.  I 
want  you  to  preach  at  my  house  this  evening,'  and  ac- 
cordingly gave  out  the  appointment.  There  are  always 
some  discerning  spirits  among  the  people,  who,  sooner 
than  others,  look  into  the  nature  and  meaninji:  of  thinors. 
One  of  the  Freewill  members,  a  lady,  remarked  when  she 
got  home  on  the  character  of  the  meeting,  saying,  '  The 
deacon  will  get  joked  this  time  with  his  missionary  or-I 
am  deceived.'  At  evening  the  house  was  crowded,  the 
Freewill  brotherhood  having  waked  up  to  an  interest  in 
what  was  occurring.  At  the  time  I  did  not  know  as 
there  was  one  anti-Calvinistic  mind  in  the  house,  but  re- 
solved, as  a  dying  man,  to  do  my  duty  without  shrinking. 
I  arose  to  speak  from  Mai.  4:2:*  Unto  you  that  fear 
my  name  shall  the  Sun  of  righteousness  arise  with  healing 
in  his  wings,'  and  felt,  as  I  progressed,  the  love  of  God  in 
my  soul.  Many  of  the  young  people  wept  aloud,  the 
Freewill  brethren  began  to  assist,  and  before  the  meeting 


X08  MEMOIR    OP 

broke  up  the  power  of  God  was  so  strikingly  displayed 
that  the  deacon,  unexpectedly  to  all,  fell  prostrate  on  the 
floor.  A  haughty  young  woman,  whose  hair  was  wrought 
into  a  profusion  of  curls,  came  forward  and  kneeled  down, 
bathing  her  curls  with  tears  as  she  cried  for  mercy.  The 
argument  on  this  occasion,  though  no  doctrine  was  dis- 
cussed, was  one  that  the  deacon  was  unable  to  resist,  for 
he  fell  as  many  as  five  times  under  the  power  of  God. 
The  house  seemed  filled  with  divine  glory.  The  congre- 
gation broke  up  about  one  o'clock  at  night.  The  next 
day  I  went  from  house  to  house  praying  and  conversing  • 
with  the  people.  I  found  that  many  were  seeking  Christ, 
and  that  a  thoughtful  solemnity  was  resting  even  on  the 
minds  of  children." 

"  The  next  evening  our  meeting  was  no  less  powerful. 
Not  less  than  twice  did  the  deacon  fall  to  the  floor ;  one 
man  who  had  fallen  away  from  the  Christian  profession, 
lay  for  some  time  speechless,  and  the  young  lady  spoken 
of  before,  came  out  bright  and  clear  in  the  expression  of 
her  change.  She  then  walked  through  the  assembly, 
taking  her  mates  by  the  hand,  and  warning  and  inviting 
them  to  flee  to  Christ,  made  a  deep  impression  on  the 
assembly.  One  other  made  profession  of  being  translated 
from  the  kingdom  of  darkness  to  the  kingdom  of  light. 
In  this  state  of  affairs  I  left  Newhampton  to  attend  other 
appointments,  which  required  some  eight  or  nine  days, 
and  from  the  good  attention  paid  to  the  word  and  its 
effect  on  the  people,  I  began  to  think  that  my  mission  to 
New  England  was  not  in  vain." 

Passages  like  these  will  doubtless  meet  with  a 
variety  of  tastes,  and  be  subjected  to  different  con- 
structions. The  effects  of  a  great  immediate  power 
that  followed  the  preaching  of  Abbot,  Whitfield,  and 


REV.  JOSEPH   BADGER.  10$ 

others,  seeming  for  a  time  to  irresistibly  sway  the  sub- 
ject, has  been  variously  explained,  or,  perhaps,  more 
properly,  has  never  been  explained  to  the  full  satis- 
faction of  the  thoughtful.  There  is  something  certainly 
in  the  nature  of  the  theme  ;  for  "who  was  ever  struck 
speechless  and  nerveless  by  a  political  appeal,  or  a 
literary,  philosophical,  or  financial  address  ?  To  make 
the  least  of  it,  these  phenomena  show  a  wild,  mighty 
vigor  in  the  darkly  oppressed  religious  element  within, 
or  the  same  amount  of  zeal  on  finance  or  the  election 
of  candidates  would  produce  equal  results.  Whether 
the  Holy  Ghost  be  present  or  absent,  the  man  whose 
word  and  personal  presence  palsies  a  beastly  sinner  or 
formal  deacon,  so  that  he  can  neither  move  nor  speak, 
is  himself  no  weak  formalist ;  no  wavering,  half-and- 
half  man,  who  lives  on  plausibility  and  apology.  This 
much  is  certain,  that  he  carries  a  conquering  force,  if 
the  cfiect  be  of  him  ;  if  not  of  him,  if  he  is  right  in 
the  declaration  "  not  unto  us  "  be  the  glory,  a  similar 
conclusion  follows  the  admission  of  his  instrumentality. 
We  love  harmony ;  and  in  the  great  harmony  that  the 
soul  should  enjoy  genuine  thunder  will  prove  no  essen- 
tial discord.  We  enjoy  quietness  ;  but  of  the  two,  we 
say  by  all  means  give  us  the  preaching  that  knocks  men 
off  their  seats,  to  that  which  never  moves  them.  But 
how  comes  on  Newhampton  ? 

"  I  continued  my  visits  to  Newhampton  for  the  space  of 
three  months.  Some  twenty  of  the  youth  were  hopefully 
converted;  I  think  I  never  saw  converts  of  greater 
strength.  But  oh !  what  trials  awaited  some  of  this 
number !     The  first  that  came  forward  in  this  reformation 


110  MEMOIR    OF 

had  mucli  persuasion  to  resist.  Her  father  was  an  open 
enemy  to  rehgion,  her  mother  was  very  pious,  but  wholly 
bound  up  in  Calvinism,  and  the  young  woman  was  deter- 
mined to  be  free  and  not  be  entangled  with  any  yoke  of 
bondage.  A  number  of  times  was  she  threatened  to  be 
turned  out  of  doors.  She  wished  baptism ;  but  being 
unordained  I  could  not  administer ;  and,  as  she  was  un- 
able to  join  Mr.  H.'s  church,  out  of  preference  to  the 
church  of  the  firstborn,  she  had  to  go  against  the  current, 
which  is  never  a  had  sign,  as  dead  fish  invariably  move 
along  with  the  stream.  Many  wished  to  be  baptized,  and 
Mr.  II.,  thinking  it  a  good  opportunity  to  gather  additions 
to  himself,  began  to  raise  all  his  forces  against  me, 
spreading  defamatory  reports  to  sour  the  minds  of  the 
people,  intending  to  drive  me  out  of  the  place.  I  was 
reminded  of  the  stanza  : 

*  They  hate  the  Gospel  preacher, 
And  cry  out,  a.  false  teacher  ! 
A  wolf!  an  active  creature, 
Will  pull  our  churches  down.' 

He  found  fault  on  several  points  of  doctrine.  We  held 
together  several  conferences,  public  and  private.  He 
indeed  stirred  up  the  devout  women  and  all  his  party  to 
opposition,  and  not  a  little  to  my  grief  we  had  to  say  — 
Farewell  to  the  reformation.  He  proselyted  five  young 
converts,  whose  happy  condition,  I  fear,  became  like  thafc^ 
of  the  fish  which  glide  pleasantly  down  the  river  Jordan 
into  the  Dead  Sea,  which  is  called  immediate  death  ;  for 
they  soon  grew  formal  and  lifeless  in  the  atmosphere  of 
the  church.  'How  is  the  fine  gold  become  dim ! '  But  what 
of  our  deacon  ?  you  will  say.  Why  this,  that  after  falling 
beneath  the  power  of  God  so  many  times,  after  giving  me 
a  letter  of  commendation  extolling  my  character,  and  the 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  Ill 

power  and  usefulness  of  my  ministry,  after  I  had  labored 
night  and  day,  and  God  had  visited  his  family  in  the  con- 
version of  three  of  his  children,  he  '  lifted  up  his  heel 
against  me.'  In  whom  then  shall  the  Gospel  minister 
trust?  In  God,  and  in  Truth.  At  this  declension  I 
sorrowed  with  a  bleeding  heart.  You  can  judge  of  my 
feelings.  I  gave  out  an  apj>ointment,  administered  as 
good  advice  as  I  knew  how  to  the  converts,  preached  on 
Sunday,  took  a  letter  of  commendation  signed  by  Elder 
Heart,*  in  behalf  of  the  church,  and  bade  them  adieu. 
December  2,  1814." 

It  would  seem  that  young  Mr.  Badger  was  not  ex- 
actly a  safe  hand  to  trust  with  the  direction  of  church 
machinery,  where  doctrine,  devotion  and  preaching 
were  respectably  stereotyped,  where  all  things  were 
smoothly  continued.  Ilis  steam  and  individuality 
were  rather  hazardous  elements  in  the  temple  of  forms. 
"  Priest  Log  "  had  been  a  safer  priest. 

He  also  narrates  his  success  in  Gilmanton,  where 
several  young  persons  and  some  of  his  own  relations 
"  bowed  to  the  mild  sceptre  of  mercy."  His  cousin, 
who  came  out  in  this  revival,  he  says  was  the  first  of 
his  relatives  with  whom  he  had  felt  a  union  in  the  Gos- 
pel, that  as  he  had  been  educated  under  the  theology 
of  Calvin,  he  was  besieged  with  entreaty  to  join  them. 
"  But,"  says  Mr.  B,  "  he  still  walks  in  Gospel  liberty ; 
I  pray  that  he  may  be  preserved  blameless,  and  prove 
a  thorn  to  the  clergy  whilst  he  lives."  He  compares 
the  policy  of  his  opponents  towards  his  CQusin  to  the 

*This  letter,  and  another  signed  by  two  deacons  in  Newhampton, 
are  before  me.  They  witness  to  the  great  power  and  success  of  his 
ministry ;  also  to  his  Christian  life. 


112  MEMOIR    OF 

barbarian  usage  of  slaying  prisoners  when  the  prospect 
of  being  overcome  grows  certain.  Extracts  of  other 
letters  here  follow. 

*'  After  I  left  Newhampton,  December  2,  I  went  to 
Meredith,  and  attended  the  ordination  of  Mr.  John  Swett. 

Here  I  find  a  page  erased,  but  as  it  is  legible  and 
very  characteristic,  I  venture  to  transcribe. 

"  Here  I  was  introduced  by  some  of  the  brethren  pres- 
ent for  ordination.  The  ministers  with  whom  I  was 
acquainted  seemed  willing  to  ordain  me,  provided  I  would 
'  consent  to  walk  on  two  legs,'  taking  the  church  of  God 
for  the  one  and  the  Freewill  society  for  the  other.  This 
statement,  substantially,  was  from  Rev.  E.  Knowlton,  of 
Pittsfield.  This  saying  of  Solomon  immediately  came  to 
my  mind,  *  The  legs  of  the  lame  are  not  equal  ;'*  and 
considering  the  Freewill  society  as  inadequate  to  the 
church  of  God,  I  concluded  that,  carrying  out  the  figure, 
one  had  better  go  through  the  world  hopping  than  limping, 
and  I  asked  wherein  one  could  be  the  loser,  provided  he 
went  as  fast  on  one  limb  as  others  did  on  two.  I  said  to 
them,  that  if  I  could  not  have  their  approbation  on  the 
ground  that  I  belonged  to  the  church  of  God,  without  the 
addition  of  their  wooden  staff,  I  would  much  i^refer  to 
stand  alone.  They  accused  me  of  being  on  the  common. 
I  answered  that  I  was  born  there  ;  that  I  much  preferred 
it  to  a  barren  pasture,  or  a  pit  wherein  is  no  water ;  that 
I  meant,  through  divine  grace,  to  stand  where  I  had 
received  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  that  if  the  church  of  God, 
unsectarianized,  is  the  common,  I  would  be  content  with 
it  till  the  arrival  of  the  time  when  there  shall  be  '  one 
fold  and  one  shepherd.'  " 

♦  Proverbs,  27:  7. 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  113 

*'  Here  I  had  to  stand  alone,  whilst  my  heart  bled  to 
see  the  superstition  and  bigotry  of  those  who  profess  to 
be  free  ;  and,  I  say  it  reluctantly  and  with  sorrow,  I 
have  seen  as  much  bondage,  and  have  met  as  bad  treat- 
ment from  those  who  claim  to  be  Freewillers,  as  ever  I 
did  from  the  more  stiff-necked  and  stoical  of  the  sects. 
To  have  the  clearest  proofs  of  belonging  to  the  body  of 
Christ,  of  having  the  sanction  of  Him  who  calls  men  to 
his  ministry,  and  to  have  undisputed  standing  among 
good  men  is  not  enough.  Party  must  be  worshipped. 
This  more  and  more  convinces  me  that  it  is  well  to  aban- 
don the  doctrines  of  men  and  all  unscriptural  names,  to 
be  disciples  not  only  in  name  but  in  practice.  I  am  also 
sorry  to  say  that  I  liave  discovered  the  same  spirit  among 
those  who  are  called  Christians.  But  I  will  leave  this 
subject,  praying  that  God  will  help  us  so  to  run  that  we 
may  obtain." 

Rather  difficult,  was  it  not,  to  get  this  young  man 
into  a  net  ?  He  stands  yet  erect  upon  his  mission, 
prays,  weeps,  preaches  by  night  and  by  day ;  and  old 
men  and  young,  mothers  and  maidens,  acknowledge 
his  right  to  lead  them  in  the  "  new  and  the  living  way" 
by  falling  into  his  line  of  march,  and  finding  words  of 
life  in  his  speech.  This  refusal  to  pledge  himself  to 
creed  and  sect,  grew  out  of  nothing  unsocial,  for  his 
whole  being  was  social  and  brotherly.  Interest  could 
not  so  have  dictated.  An  innate  greatness  of  mind  it 
was  that  gave  him  this  high  position  for  a  young  man 
as  early  as  1814,  aided  no  doubt  by  the  free  and 
generous  impulses  of  the  religion  of  Jesus,  which,  in 
his  experience  and  in  his  Testament,  alike  declared  the 
oneness   of  the  body  of  Christ,  and  of  whatever  is 


114  MEMOIR    OF 

essential  and  saving.  This  position  seems  not  to  have 
hindered  him  ;  the  faithful  still  rally  under  the  banner 
he  bears.  Mr.  Badger  was  a  man  of  great  facility  for 
carrying  his  points,  having  a  persuasive  eye,  will,  and 
speech  ;  nor  is  it  at  all  surprising  that  among  his  early 
commendatory  letters,  there  should  be  some  from  clergy- 
men of  different  denominations  ;  one  I  remember 
signed  by  three  class  leaders,  in  the  Province  of 
Canada,  and  others  from  those  who  had  obeyed  his  call 
to  the  new  life,  and  to  whom  he  became  as  an  apostle 
and  father. 

At  Gilmanton,  Barnstead,  Stratham,  Portsmouth, 
Rye,  Northampton,  he  held  forth  in  the  name  of  the 
victorious  Christ ;  and  though  there  is  no  record  of 
dogmatic  speculation  and  "  disputations  of  science," 
the  fires  of  reformation  were  kindled,  the  young  con- 
vert and  the  steadfast  believer  rejoiced  together,  bring- 
ing forward  their  golden  treasures,  not  from  the  cold 
chambers  of  the  intellect,  but  from  the  mines  of  the 
soul,  as  wrought  by  experience  and  refined  by  the 
agencies  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  One  more  touching  para- 
graph from  this  letter,  we  cannot  withhold.  Those 
who  recollect  the  calmness  and  the  pensive  music  of 
the  pine-grove,  its  unison  with  the  deeper  feelings,  will 
vividly  realize  the  passage  which  refers  to  the  lon6ly 
and  dependent  spirit  which  there  sought  relief  in 
prayerful  utterance. 

"  How  many  trials  I  have  passed  through  during  these 
four  months  !  I  well  remember  the  sad  feelings  of  my 
heart  as  I  was  riding  from  Rye  to  Portsmouth,  across  a 
pine  plain,  whilst  I  meditated  on  my  mission  and  present 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  115 

lot  in  the  world.  Leaving  my  horse,  I  retired  into  this 
still  grove,  where  none  but  the  heavenly  powers  could 
hear  the  expression  of  my  burdened  soul.  As  I  con- 
sidered my  situation,  a  feeble  youth,  hundreds  of  miles 
from  home,  among  entire  strangers,  and  bound  by  solemn 
duty  to  the  world  of  dying  sinners,  I  was  constrained  to 
weep  before  my  God  in  this  wilderness.  Here  I  sought 
his  aid.  How  oft,  on  tliat  journey,  did  I  weep  for  miles, 
as  I  rode  the  streets.  Angels  !  ye  are  witnesses  to  the 
sleepless  nights  that  passed  away  as  I  thought  of  the 
unreconciled  state  of  mankind,  and  of  my  duty  to  them. 
Here,  my  loving  friend,  you  have  a  brief  account  of  what 
I  have  seen  the  last  four  months.  I  have  reason  to  praise 
my  Redeemer.  Like  Mr.  Dow,  I  can  say,  *  What  I  have 
seen  I  know,  what  is  to  come  I  know  not.'  O  my  friend, 
strive  to  make  a  good  improvement  of  these  memories, 
and  if  we  never  meet  again  in  time,  may  the  Lord  pre- 
pare us  to  meet  in  His  kingdom  of  glory.  Yours  in  the 
Truth,  as  it  is  in  God's  dear  Son, 

''Jan.,  1815.  Joseph  Badger." 

Rightly  did  the  poet  say,  — 

"  Who  never  ate  his  bread  in  sorrow, 
Who  never  spent  the  darksome  hours, 
Weeping  and  watching  for  the  morrow  ; 
He  knows  ye  not,  ye  heavenly  Powers." 

The  prophet,  in  all  ages,  to  whom  God  gives  the 
tongue  of  flame,  must  at  some  time,  have  known  the 
holy  baptism  of  inward  sorrow. 


116  3IEM0IR    OF 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

ORDIXATIOX   AND    PUBLIC    LABORS. 

The  churches  and  communities  in  which  he  had 
given  proofs  of  his  ministry,  began  to  call  for  the  ordina- 
tion of  Mr.  Badger.  Before  me  this  moment  is  the 
call  of  the  church  in  Gilmanton,  dated  Dec.  4,  1814, 
■which  reads  as  follows  : 

"  This  certifies  that  Joseph  Badger  has  been  preaching 
several  months  past  in  this  and  adjacent  towns  with  much 
success,  and  in  this  place  souls  have  been  converted  to 
God.  He  has  the  approbation  of  the  church  in  this 
place,  as  a  Christian  and  a  Preacher  of  the  Gospel,  and 
we  believe  it  would  be  for  the  glory  of  God  for  him  to 
receive  Ordination. 

"  Signed,  in  behalf  of  the  Church, 
*'  Jasper  Elkins, 
"Frederick  Cogsavell, 
•'  Daniel  Elkins." 

Rev.  N.  "Wilson,  of  Barnstead,  after  making  strict 
inquiry  and  satisfactory  examination,  in  answer  to  the 
requests  from  the  people,  wrote  to  brethren  in  the  min- 
istry all  about,  to  attend  on  the  occasion  at  his  resi- 
dence, Jan.  19.  The  call  was  obeyed  by  the  presence 
of  seven  ministers  and  a  multitude  of  people.  Rev. 
Wm.  Blaisdel  delivered  the  discourse,  from  2d  Tim. 
4  :  2,  who,  with  W.  Young,  J.  Boody,  J.  Shepherd,  N. 
Wilson,  J.  Knowles,  N.  Piper,  were  the  persons  by 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  117 

whom  the  diflferent  parts  of  the  services  were  performed. 
It  will  be  understood  by  the  reader  that  this  ordination 
demanded  no  sectarian  acknowledgments  ;  that  it  left 
the  tree  unbent.  "  I  was  considered  by  them,"  says 
Mr.  B.,  "as  free  indeed.  No  discipline  was  urged 
upon  me  but  the  Scriptures,  and  no  master  or  leader 
but  Christ.  This,  to  me,  was  a  solemn  day,  and  long 
to  be  remembered."  He  was  now  relieved  of  many 
embarrassments  under  which  he  had  formerly  labored 
in  not  being  able  to  administer  the  ordinances. 

He  still  persevered  in  his  labors  through  towns  ad- 
jacent to  Gilmanton,  and  "  many  of  the  youth,"  he  tells 
us,  "  fled  to  the  Shiloh  for  salvation  and  rest."  On 
Jan.  20,  he  delivered  a  sermon  on  Baptism,  in  the  Free 
Meeting-house,  Gilmanton,  and  in  the  extreme  cold, 
"  under  the  keen  eye  of  the  north-west,  which  sur- 
veyed them  critically,"  he  baptized  two  persons,  Mr. 
F.  Cogswell  and  Miss  Lydia  Levy.  Satan,  he  thinks, 
began  about  this  time  to  exhibit  himself  as  a  persecu- 
tor, having  an  interest  now,  as  of  old,  in  the  assemblies 
of  the  saints.  Feb.  4th,  he  baptized  two  others  in  Al- 
ton, three  others  on  the  10th  at  Gilmanton,  and  large 
congregations  waited  upon  his  ministry.  By  the 
regular  clergy  and  their  united  influence,  his  move- 
ments were  often  opposed.  Among  the  reports  that 
clerical  poUcy  caused  to  arise,  he  records  the  following 
chapter : 

"  Badger  is  going  about  making  and  baptizing  converts, 
and  leaves  tliem  on  the  common.  He  has  no  discipline 
nor  articles  of  faith.  He  throws  away  the  holy  Sabbath, 
alleging  that  it  is  done  away  in  Christ.     He  says  that  he 


118  MEMOIR    OF 

is  not  called  to  preach  law,  but  gospel ;  therefore  he  casts 
the  law  of  God  away.  He  says  there  is  no  divine  author- 
ity for  infant  sprinkling ;  that  if  we  take  it  from  circum- 
cision, it  can  have,  like  its  prototype,  but  a  partial  appli- 
cation to  human  beings.  He  also  teaches  that  it  is  right 
for  sinners  to  pray ;  and  has  said  that  the  clergy  are  the 
greatest  evil  that  ever  happened  to  New  England,  because 
they  keep  the  people  in  gross  ignorance,  because  they  do 
not  admit  to  their  pulpits  many  Gospel  ministers,  and  be- 
cause they  are  always  the  first  to  cry  out  against  Reform- 
ation. 

•'  'And  when  a  soul  engaged, 
Exhorts  the  young  or  aged. 
The  clergy  cry,  enraged, 
They  '11  pull  our  churches  down.'  " 

How  many  such  things  the  devil  enables  blind  men  to 
throw  into  the  way  of  truth !  but  such  is  the  power  of 
Jesus'  name,  that  no  soldier  of  his  cross  is  ever  slain  so 
long  as  he  battles  for  the  right." 

<'  What  always  grieved  me  most,  was  the  deceitfulness 
of  men,  not  their  frank  opposition,  nor  even  honest  vio- 
lence. AVhen  I  was  present,  nothing  adv^erse  would  be 
said  ;  but  soon  as  I  was  absent,  all  these  things  would  be 
heaped  on  the  tender  converts.  Some,  in  sarcastic  rest- 
lessness, said  that  if  the  people  loved  the  Lord  as  well  as 
they  did  Badger,  heaven  would  be  their  surest  inheritance. 
Others  cried,  '  a  wolf  in  sheep's  clothing ; '  but  as  cross- 
ing and  mortifying  as  such  things  were,  they  did  not  move 
me,  for  I  comprehended  their  origin,  and  had  counted  the 
cost  before  I  entered  the  Gospel  field.  My  hands  were 
also  upborne  by  the  humble  prayers  of  faithful  ones.  In 
defiance  of  all  these  things,  Zion  progressed,  children 
within  her  gates  were  born,  calls  for  preaching  were  con- 
tinual, and  doors  of  usefulness  were  daily  opening." 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  119 

"  My  sister  at  this  time,  wife  of  Capt.  P.  Cogswell,  was 
dangerously  ill,  and  her  thoughts  turned  upon  her  everlast- 
ing welfare.  She  conversed  with  me  about  dying,  wept 
often  when  speaking  of  pure  religion,  and  asked  my  pray- 
ers. She  wondered  often  why  I  tarried  so  brief  a  time 
with  her  ;  but  could  she  have  seen  my  work  before  me  as 
it  was,  and  known  the  feelings  of  my  heart,  wonder  could 
have  had  no  place  in  her  mind.  My  eldest  brother,  who 
came  from  Vermont  to  Visit  ray  sister,  and  another  brother 
from  Boston,  whom  I  had  not  met  for  two  years,  who  was 
on  his  way  to  Canada,  met  me  at  Gilmanton.  In  parting 
with  them,  the  most  vivid  picture  of  past  associations,  my 
parents,  youthful  mates  and  sister,  whom  I  had  not  seen 
for  eight  months,  came  before  my  mind ;  and  after  our 
separation,  a  sad  and  lonely  feeling,  which  words  cannot 
describe,  lingered  like  a  cloud  upon  my  way  as  I  contrasted 
my  wandering  condition  among  strangers,  and  my  constant 
exposure  to  persecution,  with  the  quiet  homes  my  relatives 
enjoyed.  I  said  to  myself,  Here  I  am,  a  poor  child,  wan- 
dering about  the  world  among  strangers,  spending  what 
little  property  I  have,  my  bodily  strength  almost  worn  out 
in  preaching,  between  two  and  three  hundred  miles  from 
home  ;  and  whilst  I  am  »thus,  they  are  crowned  with  the 
honors  of  this  life,  and  no  shaft  of  sectarian  malice  is  ever 
hurled  at  them.  In  these  meditations,  though  I  profusely 
wept,  my  spirit  gathered  up  its  energies  and  found  solace 
in  the  following  stanzas  : 

"  But  cease,  my  heart,  no  more  complain, 
For  Christ  has  said  't  is  his  command  ; 
Those  who  from  pleasures  here  refrain, 
*  I  'm  with  them  till  the  world  shall  end.' 

''  Then  shall  I  say  to  friends.  Farewell ! 

Whilst  they  may  heap  their  golden  toys, 
Christ's  beauties  to  the  world  I  '11  tell, 
And  seek  for  heaven's  substantial  joys. 


120  MEMOIR    OF 

"  And  when  the  sun  and  moon  shall  fall, 
And  Nature's  beauties  each  decay, 
Christ's' merits  I  will  then  extol, 
"When  all  my  tears  are  wiped  away. 

"  Transporting  thought  of  joy  sublime, 

This  prompts  my  soul  to  spread  His  fame  ; 
Oh,  come,  my  friends,  unite  in  time, 
And  love  the  glorious  Saviour'^  name." 

"  At  Alton  I  preached  Sunday,  the  12th  inst.,  baptized 
one  young  man  ;  on  the  17th  inst.  (Feb.),  I  baptized  two 
others  in  the  same  place.  Our  meeting,  we  thought,  wag 
glorious,  and  as  we  repaired  to  the  bank  and  beheld  the 
pleasant  stream  gently  pursuing  its  native  channels,  the 
streams  of  life  did  sweetly  flow  to  cheer  our  drooping  souls. 
The  22d,  on  a  pleasant  moonlit  evening,  I  baptized  another 
young  man,  after  making  a  few  remarks  on  the  ready  sub- 
mission to  this  ordinance,  as  illustrated  in  the  instances 
of  the  eunuch  and  the  jailer." 

"  March  the  3d,  6th,  25th,  and  27th,  were  seasons  of 
baptism.  I  then  returned  to  Alton,  found  the  saints  stead- 
fast, again  preached,  and  on  April  4,  baptized  two  others. 
I  then  returned  to  Gilmanton,  baptized  brother  John  Page,* 
Jr.,  on  the  6th,  and  Joseph  Cogswell  on  the  16th.  The 
glory  of  God  seemed  to  shincaround  us.  Then  returning 
to  Alton,  we  again  had  happy  seasons  from  the  refreshing 
Fountain  of  Life.  Two  more  were  here  baptized.  Oh,  what 
happy,  what  blissful  seasons  my  soul  has  known  in  these 
earthly  regions  !  —  seasons  that  cannot  be  otherwise  than 
had  in  everlasting  remembrance  by  many.  The  trials, 
though  great,  are  past ;  but  the  hope  of  meeting  the  loved 
ones  in  God's  holy  realms,  fills  my  heart  with  lively  joy." 

*  The  same  mentioned  on  page  21. 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  121 

About  this  time,  letters  from  him  appeared  in  the 
Herald  of  Gospel  Liberty,  the  first  religious  news- 
paper published  on  the  continent  of  America,  and  it  is 
believed  to  have  been  the  first  in  the  world  that  was 
exclusively  devoted  to  religious  ends.  It  was  published 
in  Portsmouth,  N.  11. ,  by  Rev.  E.  Smith.  It  was  ably 
edited,  and  was  devoted  to  Religious  Liberty,  and  to 
the  independent  discussion  of  Religious  Truth. 

In  Vol.  Vir,  No.  12,  he  says  : 

"  With  great  pleasure  I  inform  you  that  the  God  of 
love  is  reviving  his  work  in  Alton,  I  have  been  laboring 
there  for  several  weeks  past,  in  which  time  many  of  the 
backsliders  in  heart  have  returned  to  the  stronghold  ;  also 
several  of  the  youth  have  become  lovers  of  Jesus." 

After  speaking  in  detail  of  various  conversions  and 
baptisms,  he  says : 

*'  My  heart  is  encouraged  to  spread  the  fame  of  our 
glorious  and  ascended  Lord.  O  that  professed  followers 
of  the  Lamb  would  stand  together.  How  should  we  then 
see  the  powers  of  darkness  give  way !  How  would  the 
fog  and  smoke  of  papacy  be  dispersed.  How  would  the 
adherents  of  Calvin  be  confounded,  as  the  church  of  the 
First-born  should  appear  terrible  as  an  army  with  banners  ! 
O  Lord,  let  thy  kingdom  come!  Let  thy  glory  arise  ! 
Let  the  whole  earth  be  filled  with  thy  knowledge." 

This  is  a  fine  specimen  of  his  youthful  enthusiasm 

and  abandonment  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.     Any 

one  can  see  a  full  presence  of  heart  and  soul  in  all 

that  he  does,  which  lends  to  his  pages  the  inspiration  of 

6 


122  MEMOIR    OF 

honest  aims,  earnest  effort,  a  most  confiding  and  fervent 
piety  ;  nor  can  we  fail  to  see  that  the  pure  fire  of  re- 
ligion burned  quite  constantly  on  the  altar  of  his  active 
spirit.  There  was  much  of  true  divine  life  in  the  kin- 
dling energies  of  his  speech. 

In  Vol.  VII,  No.  14,  in  a  letter  dated  Gilmanton, 
March  7,  1815,  he  says,  after  speaking  of  the  prosper- 
ity that  pertamed  to  Alton,  Barnstead,  Pittsfield  and 
Gilmanton,  towns  included  in  the  voluntary  circuit  of 
his  labors : 

"  Never  since  my  labors  in  the  Gospel  commenced  have 
I  felt  more  like  going  '  forth  weeping,'  than  for  five  weeks 
past.  Feb.  22d,  I  baptized  one,  March  3d,  one,  March 
6tli,  another.  I  pray  the  Lord  may  add  daily  to  their 
numbers  such  as  shall  be  saved." 

''  Gilmanton,  April  17,  1815. 
(P.  C82.)  "  The  news  of  the  prosperity  of  Zibn  is  the 
most  delightful  that  ever  saluted  my  cars.  Therefore  am 
I  desirous,  as  tlie  Psalmist  said,  to  *  make  known  His 
deeds  among  the  people,'  that  my  brethren  may  share  in 
the  blessing,  while  *  angels  rejoice  over  one  sinner  that 
repenteth.'  Some  who  have  been  for  weeks  and  months 
in  a  lukewarm  state,  have  felt  a  resurrection  in  their 
minds ;  but  what  most  delights  me  is  that  many  of  the 
once  haughty  youth  have  bowed  the  knee  to  Christ,  and 
confessed  him  to  be  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father. 
My  satisfaction  is  also  greatly  increased  to  see  them  ad- 
vance into  duty  and  walk  in  Gospel  order." 

He  touches  in  this  letter  very  finely  on  the  character 
of  Mr.  Page,  whom  he  baptized  on  the  6th,  a  school- 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  123 

mate  with  him,  a  man  of  excellent  character  from  his 
youth,  well-informed  and  influential ;  though  strictly 
educated  in  the  puritanical  ideas  of  the  society  of  Rev. 
J.  Smith,  he  came  forward  before  a  large  assembly  and 
acknowledged  the  unsatisfactory  character  of  the  Cal- 
vinistic  teachings  ;  and  the  same  day  he  submitted  to 
baptism  from  the  hand  of  one  whose  excesses  in  boy- 
hood he  had  himself  eflfectively  rebuked. 

Returning  to  his  own  manuscript  I  copy  from  a  letter 
belonging  to  the  month  of  May,  in  which  he  speaks  of 
spending  the  time  up  to  the  10th  at  Barnstead  and 
Lower  Gilmanton ;  of  going  to  New  Durham  on  the 
10th,  where  he  met  the  church  of  God  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Wiley,  and  for  the  first  time  met  with  Elder  Wm. 
Buzzel,  whom  he  found  alive  in  the  cause  of  Reforma- 
tion. In  the  afternoon  he  preached  to  them  from  John 
10  :  9.  "  I  am  the  door  :  by  me  if  any  man  enter  in, 
he  shall  be  saved,  and  shall  go  in  and  out,  and  find  pas- 
ture."    He  says : 

*'  The  Lord's  table  was  then  set,  and  our  hearts  were 
solemn  whilst  we  participated  of  the  sacred  symbols.  We 
felt  the  holy  presence  of  Him  who  is  with  his  church  to 
the  end  of  the  world.  I  then  returned  to  Alton,  the  11th 
went  to  Barnstead,  where  I  was  much  edified  in  hearing 
aged  Christians  bring  out  the  stores  of  their  spiritual  ex- 
perience ;  the  12th  rode  to  Elder  Wilson's  much  fatigued, 
being  exposed  to  storms  by  night  and  by  day.  Thanks 
to  Him  who  preserves  his  creatures ;  and  now  that  the 
winter  is  past,  and  nature  is  gay  with  flowers,  I  would 
welcome,  in  a  spiritual  sense,  the  sentiments  of  the  Jewish 
wise  man,  '  Lo,  the  winter  is  past,  the  rain  is  over  and 
gone ;  the  flowers  appear  on  the  earth ;  the  time  of  the 


124  MEMOIR    OF 

singing  of  birds  is  come,  and  the  voice  of  the  turtle  is 
heard  in  our  land.'  Oh,  that  '  at  evening  time  '  *  light 
might  increase  until  the  shades  of  night  are  dispersed 
from  the  minds  of  the  people." 

"  The  13th,  met  the  church  at  Mr.  Wilson's,  where  a 
number  were  added ;  the  14th  being  Sunday,  we  met  a 
large  assembly  of  attentive  people.  At  noon  we  repaired 
to  the  water  for  baptism  ;  in  the  afternoon  we  administered 
the  communion  to  a  large  number  of  brethren  in  Christ. 
It  was  a  solemn  time.  Oh,  that  the  youth  who  then  heard 
might  seek  the  Lord  and  make  his  Son  their  friend ;  and 
in  this  place  may  the  works  of  evil,  the  doctrines  of 
men,  be  destroyed,  and  a  people  zealous  of  good  works 
be  raised  up.  But  with  a  heart  overflowing  with  friend- 
ship to  dying  men,  I  should  close  this  letter.  Attend  me, 
Virtue,  through  my  youthful  years  !  Oh,  leave  me  not 
to  the  false  joys  of  time,  but  to  endless  life  direct  my 
steps  !     May,  1815." 

^' The  19th  of  May  I  attended  meeting  at  Candia,  was 
there  invited  to  visit  Deerfield,  and  gladly  embraced  the 
opportunity  of  speaking  to  that  people.  For  the  youth 
my  mind  was  much  drawn  out ;  and  though  I  had  not  the 
least  idea  when  I  came  that  I  should  tarry  in  Deerfield, 
the  prospect  of  the  good  that  might  be  done,  induced  me 
to  make  arrangements  for  staying  in  that  place.  On  Fri- 
day evening  I  spoke  at  Rev.  Peter  Young's,  on  Sunday 
at  the  Baptist  meeting-house,  at  which  time  many  dated 
their  particular  convictions.  On  the  way  to  my  evening 
appointment,  I  was  surprised  by  the  call  of  a  gentleman, 
who,  very  well  dressed  and  of  respectable  appearance,  came 
out  of  his  house  and  moderately  advanced  toward  me. 
I  paused,  and  setting  my  eyes  steadfastly  upon  him,  soon 
observed  that  trembling  had  got  hold  of  him.     He  said, 

*  Zech.  14  :  7 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  125 

'  Mr.  Badger,  I  wish  you  to  attend  meeting  at  my  Hall. 
My  wife  is  very  anxious  to  hear  you,'  and  many  other 
words  of  persuasive  tendency.  I  was  satisfied  that  he 
had  a  death  wound,*  which  to  me  was  a  source  of  new 
courage ;  I  went  on  to  my  appointment,  held  meetings 
every  day  through  the  week,  and  some  were  daily  delivered 
from  the  reign  of  darkness  and  of  sin.  On  Saturday  I 
returned  to  the  gentleman's  Hall,  which  indeed  has  ever 
since  been  a  place  of  public  worship,  and  met  a  multitude 
of  people.  This  meeting  will  be  had  in  everlasting  re- 
membrance. The  gentleman  who  had  invited  me,  and 
several  others,  fell  on  their  knees  some  time  in  the  after- 
noon, and  continued  in  prayer  until  about  ten  in  the 
evening.  The  '  new  song  '  was  sung  by  many,  and  from 
that  time,  the  gentleman,  his  family,  and  even  premises, 
seemed  converted,  for  his  house  is  as  a  sacred  Bethel." 

The  young  minister,  not  knowing  in  his  ardor  and 
youth,  that  this  human  world  is  an  old,  a  tough,  a  wise, 
and  a  most  lasting  fact,  that  bends  but  temporarily  to 
the  new  influence  which  seems  for  the  time  to  mould 
its  form,  penned  the  conviction  that  soon  the  Angel  of 
the  Apocalypse  would  fly  through  the  midst  of  heaven 
proclaiming  that  "  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  slx^  be- 
come the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  and  of  his  Christ." 
Rapid  was  the  spread  and  victory  of  the  word  preached. 
Over  one  hundred  were  converted  in  this  town  of 
Deerfield,  and  not  unfrequently  did  he  baptize  twelve 
and  sixteen  a  day.  One  evenuig,  as  the  moonlight 
shed  its  silver  upon  the  flowing  stream,  he  baptized 
fourteen  persons,  who  arose  from  the  pure  element  to 

*  In  a  sense  that  to  you  needs  no  explanation. 


126  MEMOIR    OF 

walk  in  newness  of  life,  in  the  purity  of  which  the 
graceful  currents  are  evermore  the  eloquent  symbol. 
He  speaks  of  a  fashionable  clergyman  who  honored 
them  by  his  presence,  and  who,  in  criticism,  compared 
their  appearance  to  a  general  training.  ^'  I  conjec- 
ture," says  Mr.  B.,  "  we  might  have  had  too  much  fire 
for  him ;  "  and  finding  an  analogy  in  the  fear  which  forest 
fires  cause  among  certain  of  its  denizens,  he  proceeds 
in  the  same  energetic  narration,  rejoicing  that  there  is 
a  gentle  and  a  searching  fire  by  which  sinners  here 
may  be  gloriously  consumed.  Jesus  came  to  kindle 
such  fire,  whose  vital  heat  is  love,  whose  aspiring  flames 
are  truths  that  both  brighten  the  earth  and  reflect  upon 
the  clouded  canopy.  He  acknowledges  the  faithful  co- 
operation and  labor  of  Rev.  Peter  Young,  a  resident  of 
Deerfield.  The  energy,  decision  and  success,  which 
belonged  to  the  public  life  of  Mr.  Badger,  must,  in  the 
ordinary  course  of  things,  have  called  out  much  oppo- 
sition, particularly  as  he  did  not  walk  in  time-hallowed 
routines,  but  created,  through  the  force  of  his  charac- 
ter, and  his  peculiar  abilities,  the  popularity  that  attend- 
ed him. 

**  Notwithstanding,"  says  Mr.  B.,  "  God  has  so  wonder- 
fully favored  the  people,  the  three  charaoters  who  always 
persecute  religion  continued  their  old  employment. 
Whenever  you  see  persons  engaged  in  persecuting  religion, 
you  will  always  find  them  one  of  the  following  classes, 
viz. :  the  superstitious,  the  wicked,  or  such  of  the  very 
ignorant  as  do  not  comprehend  what  belongs  to  good 
manners.  Here  the  superstitious  cried  delusion,  the 
wicked  threatened  to  unite  in  violent  mob  parties,  and  the 
exceedingly  foolish  were  thrust  forward    as  the  instru- 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  127 

merits  of  the  first-named  class.  Malevolent  and  silly 
reports  were  spread,  but  every  attempt  of  this  dissipated 
crew  seemed  to  work  against  them,  enough  so  as  to  fulfil 
the  saying  of  the  Psalmist,  '  His  mischief  shall  return 
upon  his  own  head,  and  his  violent  dealing  shall  come 
down  upon  his  own  pate ;'  *  which  leads  one  to  think  that 
it  is  unnecessary  to  take  much  pains  to  detect  the  wicked, 
because  they  very  soon  detect  themselves.  '  The  heathen 
are  sunk  down  in  the  pit  that  they  made ;  in  the  net 
which  they  hid  is  their  own  foot  taken. 'f  Solomon,  who 
closely  observed  the  events  of  the  world,  also  had  occa- 
sion to  say,  '  He  that  diggeth  a  pit  shall  fall  into  it.'  "J 

In  Volume  II,  No.  14,  of  the  Herald  of  Gospel 
Liberty,  is  a  letter  from  his  pen,  dated  at  Deerfield, 
June  28,  1815,  which  reports  the  success  of  the  refor- 
mation in  that  place,  in  a  manner  that  so  perfectly 
agrees  with  the  foregoing,  I  find  no  occasion  to  present 
any  of  its  paragraphs.  Not  to  Deerfield  was  this  ref- 
ormation wholly  confined,  as  he  often  visited  Notting- 
ham, Lee,  Newmarket,  Stratham,  Exeter,  Kensington, 
Candia,  Allenstown,  and  other  places.     He  says : — 

*'  In  Nottingham  many  were  made  happy  in  the  love  of 
Christ.  Here  I  baptized  many.  One  afternoon,  as  a 
large  assembly  were  gathered  by  the  water-side,  where 
eight  persons  received  this  ordinance,  I  observed  three 
young  men  jump  from  the  shore  upon  a  rock  that  lay  in 
the  midst  of  the  stream,  and  the  spectacle  of  these  un- 
converted young  men  standing  upon  a  rock  produced  an 
association  of  ideas  that  led  me  to  feel  much  for  them ; 
in  praying  I  spoke  of  them,  and  was  impressed  to  say  that 

*Ps.7:16.  11*8.9:15.  +Ecc.lO:8 


128  MEMOIR    OF 

something  solemn  awaited  them  soon.  In  a  few  days  one 
of  the  number,  in  much  agony  of  mind,  fell  beneath  a 
fatal  disease,  which  deeply  impressed  the  old  and  the 
young." 

"  On  the  first  day  of  the  week,  I  had,  by  the  request  of 
several  gentlemen,  an  appointment  at  the  Square.  A  few 
individuals,  being  such  as  they  were,  strove  to  effect  a 
disturbance,  and  in  a  glance  you  will  perceive  the  inge- 
nuity of  their  plot.  They  hired  an  old  man  who  once  had 
been  a  professed  preacher  at  Dover,  but  who  had  been 
turned  out  for  his  debaucheries,  to  enter  the  meeting-house 
before  me  and  to  occupy  the  time  with  religious  services. 
Although  it  is  said  that  the  children  of  this  world  are  in 
their  generation  wiser  than  the  children  of  light,  it  must 
be  owned  tliat  they  sometimes  get  defeated.  Even  from 
eight  different  towns  the  congregation  was  collected,  the 
appointment  being  quite  generally  circulated.  As  I  rode 
to  the  place,  I  heard  the  bell  ring  about  ten  o'clock,  and 
hastening  as  quickly  as  possible  to  the  Square,  the  people, 
who  were  coming  from  every  direction,  seeing  me  ride  up, 
thronged  about  me ;  some  of  them,  having  been  in  the 
church,  knew  the  attempted  order  of  the  day.  One 
said,  '  The  devil  is  in  the  pulpit ;  *  another  said,  *  The 
devil  has  taken  the  meeting-house  before  us,  and  you  had 
best  not  go  in.'  I  answered  that  if  the  devil  was  in  the 
house  I  was  bound  to  see  him,  and  prevailed  on  the  peo- 
ple to  go  in.  As  I  entered  the  door,  I  saw  the  rough 
clergyman  standing  with  his  hymn  book  in  his  hand  ready 
to  open  the  meeting.  As  I  ascended  the  stairs  he  began 
to  read  the  hymn.  I  sat  contented  until  he  had  finished 
the  reading,  then  introducing  myself  to  the  assembly, 
inquired  concerning  the  time  when  my  neighbor's  appoint- 
ment was  given  out ;  the  answers  enabled  me  to  say  to 
him  kindly,  *  As  my  appointment  is  previous  to  yours  I 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  129 

should  esteem  it  a  privilege  to  improve  a  part  of  the  day.* 
He  roughly  responded,  '  You  can  speak  after  I  have  done  ;* 
and  then  arose  abruptly,  placing  himself  in  a  position  to 
pray  as  soon  as  the  singers  had  concluded  the  music. 
During  the  repeat  of  the  last  line  I  asked  of  him  the  priv- 
ilege of  speaking  a  word  to  the  people  on  the  circum- 
stances of  the  day,  to  which  he  answered,  '  You  must  be 
short.'  I  then  apprised  the  audience,  that  as  my  appoint- 
ment was  contravened  by  another,  my  meeting  would  in 
ten  minutes  begin  in  Mr.  Nealey's  orchard ;  and  bidding 
the  gentleman  of  the  pulpit  good  morning,  advanced  to 
the  pleasant  grove  about  fifteen  rods  distant,  accompanied 
by  all  the  assembly  save  the  clergyman  and  his  five  em- 
ployers, to  whom  he  read  the  notes  he  had  written.  On 
leaving  the  church  I  began  to  sing  a  popular  hymn,  in 
which  I  was  joined  by  the  choir  who  accompanied  me  ; 
and  after  a  hasty  but  comfortable  arrangement  of  seats, 
with  the  azure  heavens  for  my  sounding-board,  and  a  large 
box  for  my  pulpit,  I  spoke  to  the  hundreds  before  me  from 
Gen.  49  :  10.  It  was  free  air.  Between  thirty  and  forty 
spoke  after  the  sermon,  so  that  without  a  minute  of  vaca- 
tion, the  meeting  continued  five  hours.  The  opposers 
were  put  to  shame,  and  ever  since  has  that  meeting-house 
been  free.  Nottingham,  therefore,  by  many  events  is  kept 
in  my  memory." 

Although  there  are  severcal  interesting  letters  written 
by  him  about  this  time  to  his  relatives  and  friends,  let- 
ters that  abound  in  good  feeling,  in  various  incident, 
and  in  the  devoted  spirit  of  his  mission,  they  cannot  be 
introduced  without  sacrificing  the  material  that  repre- 
sents his  later  years.  Confining  ourselves,  therefore, 
to  the  shortest  statement  of  his  public  life,  we  will 
6* 


130  MEMOIR   OF 

follow  the  direct  path  of  his  OTv^n  private  journal.  But  in 
reading  letters  dictated  in  the  freedom  of  the  heart, 
and  alive  with  the  inspiration  of  earnest  purposes,  one 
is  conscious  of  the  resurrection  of  a  former  period ; 
and  with  the  aspect  of  the  olden  leaf  and  the  evangel- 
ical words  upon  them  written,  one  seems  to  drink,  for 
the  time,  of  the  same  fountain  of  life  that  supplied 
with  energy  the  self-sacrificing  and  the  God-trusting 
ones.  We  know  that  forms  of  thinking  and  modes  of 
expression  are  greatly  varied  by  the  succession  of  time, 
but  we  have  yet  to  learn  that  the  pure  flame  of  the 
spirit,  through  any  medium  and  in  any  time,  is  other 
than  one  with  the  latest  excellence.  Naturalness,  en- 
ergy, courage,  persevering  devotion  to  the  welfare  of 
mankind,  are  qualities  that,  like  gold  retained,  shine 
equally  brilliant  through  all  the  divisions  of  time,  the 
same  in  1815  as  in  1854. 

August  22d,  of  this  year,  he  announced,  through 
the  religious  newspaper  at  Portsmouth,  a  paper  from 
"which  some  extracts  have  been  taken,  his  intention  of 
attending  a  general  meeting  in  Bradford,  Vt.,the  first 
Sunday  in  September,  and  of  going  thence  into  the 
Province  of  Lower  Canada  to  visit  his  relatives,  and  to 
renew  the  friendship  of  former  times  with  the  churches 
of  his  former  care.  To  his  father,  in  a  letter  dated 
Newmarket,  August  5th,  he  says  : — 

"  I  am  now  preaching  in  Exeter,  Stratham,  Newmar- 
ket, Epping,  Lee,  Nottingham  Square,  Deerfield.  Often 
from  one  to  two  thousand  people  attend  at  a  meeting.  I 
have  baptized  towards  one  hundred  since  last  January, 
and  the  call  for  preaching  is  very  general  in  this  quarter." 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  1^ 

Soon  we  hear  of  him  on  his  appointed  way.  But 
before  the  month  of  August  is  exhausted,  we  find  him 
in  Newmarket,  Lee,  Deerfield,  AUenstown,  Barnstead, 
Ipsom  and  Gilmanton,  preaching,  and  baptizing  those 
that  believe.  At  Lee,  where  his  congregation  was 
gathered  from  different  towns,  the  good-night  meeting 
lasted  till  2  o'clock  in  the  morning,  none  wishing  to 
depart.  Through  the  pitiless  storm  he  rides  to  Deer- 
field,  hears  seven  relate  their  religious  history,  whom 
he  baptizes  ''  according  to  the  usage  and  teaching  of 
the  New  Testament ; "  on  the  next  day  (Sunday) 
meets  a  large  assembly  at  AUenstown,  to  whom  he 
speaks  and  administers  baptism  to  a  few  believers  ;  on 
Monday,  at  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  addresses  the  community 
at  Gilmanton ;  on  Tuesday  preaches  and  baptizes  at 
Mr.  Proctor's,  on  AVednesday  returns  to  Barnstead, 
and  hears  that  original  and  peculiarly  gifted  speaker, 
EHas  Smith,  of  Portsmouth  N.  IL  ;  and  on  Thursday 
starts  for  his  northern  home  by  the  way  of  Vermont, 
accompanied  to  the  Province,  by  a  young  man  from 
Farmington,  N.  H.,  whose  noble  history  in  after  years 
has  rendered  his  name  a  lasting  fragrance  in  the 
churches.  Indeed  the  name  of  John  L.  Peavy,  to 
those  who  knew  him,  is  but  another  word  for  honor, 
afiection  and  faithfulness. 

"  The  first  day,  I  arrived  at  Rumney,  a  distance  of  fifty 
miles,  and  attended  meeting  in  the  evening ;  on  Friday 
arrived  at  Bradford,  and  on  Saturday  and  Sunday  at- 
tended the  general  meeting,  which  was  a  profitable  time. 
Here  my  acquaintance  with  ministers  and  others  was 
enlarged.     On  Monday,  in  company  with  Rev.  J.  Boody 


X'32:  MEMOIR    OP 

and  brother  Peavy,  I  continued  my  journey  to  the  North, 
arriving  at  Wheelock  on  Tuesday,  where  I  was  persuaded 
to  stop  by  a  gentleman  whose  wife  and  child  had  just 
expired,  to  attend  their  funeral  the  next  day.  He  had 
formerly  been  one  of  my  hearers.  We  met  a  large  num- 
ber of  mourners  and  friends,  who  appeared  sincerely  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  so  virtuous  a  friend  and  neighbor.  As 
the  meeting  was  about  to  commence,  Squire  Bean  pre- 
sented me  the  text  on  which  the  afflicted  husband  wished 
me  to  speak,  which  was,  *  As  in  Adam  all  die,  even  so  in 
Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive.'  He  was  a  Universalist, 
I  think,  in  opinion,  but  with  the  request  I  cheerfully 
complied." 

"  On  Thursday  we  rode  into  Canada,  as  far  as  to  Stan- 
stead,  the  residence  of  the  good  minister,  Avery  Moulton. 
On  Friday  we  arrived  at  my  father's,  in  Compton,  where 
ray  spirit  was  melted  down  by  the  presence  of  dear  friends, 
whom  I  had  not  seen  in  fifteen  months.  Our  hearts  were 
mingled  in  thankful  prayer.  When  I  left  the  Province  it 
was  convulsed  by  war.  Now  peace  had  resumed  her 
reigQ.  Seven  days  I  tarried  in  this  place  and  enjoyed  a 
number  of  good  meetings.  On  Monday  we  rode  to 
Ascott,  and  had  a  happy  meeting  with  friends  that  clung 
to  me  with  affection  in  my  early  endeavors  at  preaching ; 
on  Tuesday  we  visited  Oxford  ;  on  Wednesday  we  passed 
through  Brompton  and  Windsor,  to  Shipton,  where  my 
excellent  friend,  J.  L.  Peavy,  remained.  Leaving  an 
appointment  to  preach  the  next  Sabbath  at  Shipton,  I 
proceeded  to  Ringsey." 

Truly  might  Mr.  Badger,  in  his  friendly  letter  for- 
merly quoted,  say,  "  What  is  to  come  I  know  not."  A 
new  cloud  is  ready  to  rise  upon  his  path.  The  fortune 
of  some  men  allows  them  a  smooth  and  easy  way  ;  and 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGEK.  133 

others,  as  by  some  causative  genius  in  their  being,  are 
called  to  meet  great  trials,  and  to  plan  their  course 
against  strong  opposing  forces.  Such  was  the  life  of 
the  independent  minister ;  though  it  flows  as  an  ample 
river  through  much  calm  and  life-like  scenery,  its  com- 
mon-place is  frequently  broken  by  -cascades  and  cata- 
racts.    But  let  us  read  his  own  natural  statement : — 

"  In  the  upper  part  of  the  town  of  Ringsey  I  attended 
a  funeral.  After  meeting  I  rode  nine  miles  to  attend  an 
appointment  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town.  Though  the 
state  of  feeling  was  generally  low,  it  was  a  solemn, 
refreshing  time.  Early  on  Friday  morning  as  I  was 
about  to  visit  my  friends  in  that  place,  a  military  officer 
sent  a  man,  accompanied  by  a  large  brawny  Indian,  to 
make  me  a  prisoner,  and  carry  me  to  the  county  seat  of 
justice,  at  the  Three  Rivers,  for  the  offence  I  had  com- 
mitted against  the  government,  in  leaving  the  country  in 
time  of  war.  This  was  done  although  the  Governor  had 
issued  proclamation  that  all  who  had  thus  left  might 
return  in  peace.  Prisoners  of  war  in  time  of  peace 
struck  me  as  something  ne\v.  I  asked  the  person  who 
made  me  a  prisoner  what  authority  he  had  for  so  doing ; 
he  answered,  that  he  was  an  officer,  and,  without  showing 
any  proof  of  his  right  to  act  for  the  government,  ordered 
me  immediately  to  get  into  the  birch  canoe,  and  go  with 
them  by  water.  I  candidly  informed  him  that  I  should 
not  start  for  the  Rivers  without  authority,  and  that  if  I 
went  in  the  77iode  of  conveyance  proposed,  under  a  guard 
of  savages,  it  would  be  by  force.  Finding  that  I  was  not 
alarmed,  and  that  he  could  not  proceed,  he  then  started 
for  the  residence  of  Capt.  Moor,  about  one  mile  distant, 
to  procure  a  warrant,  and  left  the  savage  to  guard  me.  I 
soon  proposed  to  the  red  man  that  I  would  accompany. 


134  MEMOIR    OF 

liim  on  my  horse  to  Capt.  Moor's ;  but  fearing  that  I 
might  ride  by,  he  ran  on  foot  with  all  speed.  When  I 
arrived,  the  captain  had  the  warrant  nearly  made  out, 
but,  instead  of  finishing  it,  met  me  in  a  rage.  He  would 
not  hear  to  a  word  of  reason,  nor  to  the  advice  of  his 
friends.  After  I  saw  that  I  must  go,  I  asked  the  privilege 
of  riding  my  horse,  at  the  same  time  offering  to  hire  some 
of  the  keepers  to  go  with  me  by  land.  The  captain  re- 
plied that  he  would  not  grant  me  the  least  favor,  and  the 
officer  said  I  should  go  in  the  birch  canoe.  As  I  gave  no 
assent  to  this  method,  I  was  seized  by  the  shoulder  and 
viotently  dragged  out  of  the  door,  and  beyond  what  lan- 
guage can  paint  was  abused  by  the  zealous  officer.  He 
boldly  threatened  my  life,  and  accompanied  by  words  oi 
the  coarsest  profanity,  said,  '  Damn  your  blood,  I  will  take 
your  life  as  quick  as  I  would  a  rattlesnake's.'  After  the 
officer  had  said  this,  I  addressed  the  captain  in  these 
words  :  'Sir  I  am  much  surprised  that  you  should  thus 
cause  a  prisoner  to  be  abused,  and  that  you  should  put 
me  into  the  hands  of  a  person  at  the  head  of  a  party  of 
savages,  who  has  threatened  my  life  before  your  face.' 
Instead  of  acting  on  any  idea  of  propriety  suggested  by 
me,  he  broke  forth  in  swearing,  saying  that  he  himself 
would  take  my  life.  At  this,  his  wife  and  son,  being  no 
longer  able  to  refrain,  spoke  moderately  in  my  behalf.  As 
I  had  not  given  my  consent  to  this  uncivil  mode  of  con- 
veyance, the  officer  ordered  a  cord  to  be  brought  with 
which  to  bind  me.  He  also  asked  for  assistance,  but  none 
of  the  people  present  would  lend  any  aid.  Then  uttering 
an  Indian  yell  for  some  savages,  whom  I  supposed  he  had 
placed  in  ambush,  we  soon  saw  them  appear,  some  on  the 
river  and  some  on  the  land.  This  was  a  display  of  fe- 
rocity I  in  nowise  had  expected.  Before  they  arrived, 
however,  to  do  the  will  of  the  angry  officer,  Mr.  Asa 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  I'SSl 

Bean,  son  of  Col.  John  Bean,  came  forward  in  my  behalf, 
and  said  I  should  not  go  with  the  savage  crew,  that  he 
would  be  my  keeper  and  agree  that  I  should  be  at  Windo- 
ver  that  day,  which  was  sixteen  miles  towards  the  Three 
Rivers.  We  then  mounted  our  horses  for  the  journey 
agreed  upon,  at  which  place  we  arrived  about  three 
o'clock,  much  fatigued.  We  put  up  at  an  inn,  and  paid 
our  own  charges.  The  mob  party  came  in  birch  canoes 
on  the  river." 

For  a  moment  leaving  the  private  journal  of  Mr. 
Badger,  I  would  present  a  letter  written  to  Mr.  J.  L. 
Peavj  at  this  very  point  where  he  met  the  uncourteous 
band  who  had  progressed  by  water.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  he  had  an  appointment  at  Shipton  on  Sun- 
day, and  that  the  nature  of  his  circumstances  with 
reference  to  his  public  engagement,  as  well  as  his 
friendship  for  the  young  man  he  had  introduced  into 
his  former  field  of  labor,  required  a  statement  of  his 
condition.  The  letter  is  dated  Windover.  L.  C,  9 
o'clock  Friday  evening,  Sept.  15,  1815.  It  was 
-written  at  evening ;  and  I  would  say  that  Mr.  Badger 
was  a  man  who  generally  cast  himself  .upon  his  morning 
thoughts,  the  clear  thoughts  that  preceded  the  sunrise. 
Under  any  personal  trouble,  he  would  at  evening  fall 
easily  to  sleep,  and  in  the  morning  plan  his  way  like  a 
Napoleon,  wherever  there  was  magnitude  in  the  diffi- 
culties to  be  met. 

*'  My  dear  Brother  :  —  Your  experience,  I  am  sat- 
isfied, teaches  you  that  persecution  is  the  common  lot  of 
the  true  followers  of  Christ.  This  morning,  by  the  order 
of  Capt.  Moor,  of  Ringsey,  I  was  taken  and  ordered  to 


136  MEMOIR    OF 

march  to  the  Three  Rivers,  guarded  by  a  company  of 
Indians,  with  the  savage-like  Robert  McMullen  at  their 
head.  But  as  I  could  not  be  reconciled  to  this  company, 
and  to  this  manner  of  conveyance  (which  was  a  birch 
canoe),  I  plainly  told  them  that  if  I  went  in  such  a  man- 
ner, it  would  be  because  I  was  obliged  to  do  so.  I  was 
then  very  unhandsomely  used.  I  was  not  only  abused  by 
words,  but  violent  hands  were  laid  on  me.  Then  Mr. 
Asa  Bean  appeared  in  my  behalf,  and  offered  to  be  bound 
to  "deliver  me  at  Mr.  Stewart's,  in  Windover,  the  same 
day.  I  then  had  liberty  to  ride  my  horse,  and  about  three 
o'clock  we  arrived  here.  I  expect  on  the  morrow  to  start 
for  the  Three  Rivers.  This  is  indeed  a  time  of  trial  to 
me ;  but  I  can  truly  say,  with  St,  Paul,  that  '  None  of 
these  things  move  me,  neither  count  I  my  life  dear  unto 
me,'  Hitherto  the  Lord  has  helped  me,  and  Jesus  says, 
*  Lo,  I  am  with  you,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.' 
This  promise  to  me  now,  whilst  I  am  surrounded  by  a 
dozen  of  the  merciless  savages,  is  worth  more  than  mil- 
lions of  worlds.  I  really  feel  that  these  afflictions  will 
work  for  good  in  the  end.  Oh  Lord,  may  they  serve  to 
humble  me  down,  and  to  teach  me  my  dependence  on 
thee." 

**  Capt.  Moor  do«s  not  pretend  to  accuse  me  of  anything 
but  of  going  into  the  States  in  time  of  war,  as  I  have 
understood,  and  I  am  informed  that  his  own  children  have 
done  the  same  with  approbation.  But  that  which  pains 
my  heart  the  most,  is  to  think  that  in  the  reformation  at 
Ringsey  only  two  years  ago,  this  mad  man  made  a  profes- 
sion of  religion.  Oh  how  many  such  characters  wound  the 
cause  of  our  Master  !  Lord,  pity  them.  I  wish  you  to 
give  yourself  no  uneasiness  on  my  account.  God  Almighty 
will  make  my  afflictions  a  blessing  to  somebody.  It  will 
be  well  for  you  to  return  to  Asqott  as  soon  as  Wednesday, 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  137 

and  there  remain  until  you  hear  from  me  again.  Be  of 
good  courage.  I  hope  you  will  never  have  it  to  regret  that 
you  came  into  this  region.  Pray  for  your  unworthy 
brother  Joseph,  that  he  may  finish  his  course  with  joy. 
I  am,  if  need  be,  ready  to  be  offered ;  and,  from  several 
causes,  I  feel  that  the  time  of  my  departure  is  not  far 
distant.  Dear  brother,  I  bid  you  a  short  farewell,  hoping, 
if  not  in  time,  to  meet  you  in  pure  realms  of  glory. 

v"  J.  Badger." 
^'Johi  Langdon  Peavy." 

The  night  passed  away,  and  our  prisoner  arose  on 
Saturday  morning  with  a  plan  in  his  brain,  with  which 
he  calmly  confronted  the  tawny  band  and  their  leaders. 
Only  about  fifteen  miles  of  the  passage  was  completed, 
and  the  remainder  was  never  accomplished.  He  told 
them  that  he  should  not  go  further  unless  they  could 
get  higher  authority  than  wliat  they  then  possessed, 
and  to  secure  this,  oflfered  to  appear  before  the  ofi&cers 
of  a  miUtary  company  whose  tents  were  pitched  on  the 
other  side  of  the  St.  Francisway  river. 

"  Early  on  Saturday  morning,"  says  Mr.  B., "  we  crossed 
the  river  into  Drummondsville,  and  appeared  before  Com- 
missary Morrison,  where  some  of  my  company  were  greatly 
ashamed  and  humbled ;  when  the  Commissary,  after  hear- 
ing the  facts,  said  unhesitatingly,  '  Mr.  Badger,  go  about 
your  business.'  It  soon  became  a  question  to  ascertain 
how  much  Capt.  Moor  had  gained  this  time  by  his  loyalty. 
Hiring  an  Indian  to  convey  me  across  the  river,  Mr.  Bean 
and  myself  returned  to  our  starting-place  at  Ringsey,  and 
riding  fifteen  miles  on  Sunday  morning,  I  arrived  to  my 
appointment  at  Shipton,  where  I  enjoyed  a  refreshing  time 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord." 


138  MEMOIR    OP 

In  the  montli  of  May,  1835,  I  remember,  for  the 
first  time,  to  have  passed  some  five  days  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  B.,  who  then  edited  a  popular  and  influential 
paper  entitled  "  The  Christian  Palladium,"  at  Union 
Mills,  Fulton  Co.,  New  York.  The  order  into  which 
all  his  arrangements  seemed  naturally  to  fall,  the 
business  tact,  that  seemed  with  him  a  sponstaneous 
ability,  were  easily  observable.  In  the  familiar  con- 
versation to  which  he  was  accustomed  in  the  social 
circle  of  his  own  home,  I  remember  to  have  heard  him 
say  to  a  gentleman  who  inquired  of  his  daily  habits, 
"  I  am  a  business  man.  I  rise  early,  and  hear  the 
first  notes  of  the  robin.  I  would  give  more  for  one 
morning  hour,  to  think  in,  than  for  all  the  rest  of  the 
day.  I  lay  my  plans  in  the  morning  ;  and,  if  you  will 
beheve  it,  I  never  got  into  a  diflficulty  yet,  from  which 
one  clear  hour  of  thinking  in  the  morning  w^ould  not 
deliver  me."  And  the  foregoing  passage  of  his  early 
history  is  but  one  illustration  among  hundreds,  showing 
that  there  was  no  egotism  in  the  remark  here  quoted. 
Passing  some  days  at  Shipton,  Ascott  and  Compton,  he 
again  started  for  New  England,  the  scene  of  his  former 
success,  many  of  whose  ministers  and  churches  had 
crowned  him  with  verbal  benedictions,  and  with  hearty 
written  commendations  ;  whose  words  are  still  alive  on 
many  carefully  preserved  documents,  as  legible  as  when 
they  were  first  penned.  Not  in  haste  did  he  leave  the 
Province,  holding  many  meetings  first ;  and  whether 
these  animosities,  growing  out  of  the  suspected  char- 
acter of  his  British  patriotism,  wholly  subsided  or  not, 
with  the  fruitless  assault  of  his  enemies  already  related, 
I  know  not.     An  explicit  document,  bearing  date  Jan. 


KEV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  139 

8,  1818,  signed  by  the  citizens  of  Compton,  shows 
that  "Joseph  Badger,  son  of  Major  Pcaslee  Badger, 
of  Compton,  has  a  bright  and  shining  character  as  a 
Christian  in  the  Province  of  Lower  Canada,  where  he 
has  been  known ;  and  that  always  when  he  came  into 
the  town  to  see  his  parents  and  friends,  he  came  into 
the  Province  boldly  and  preached  publicly  wherever 
he  had  occasion  to  preach  ;  "  which,  in  the  absence  of 
other  explanation,  looks  like  an  effort  to  meet  the  slan- 
der of  some  enemy,  who  might  have  planted  him^^elf, 
like  Capt.  Moor,  on  grounds  of  superabundant  loy- 
alty. Something  bordering  on  the  miraculous  shines 
through  the  following  incident,  related  of  a  youth  in 
Ascott  ; 

"  A  young  man  of  tlie  family  of  Mr.  Bullard,  who  had 
been  confined  for  six  years,  deprived  of  sight,  strength, 
and  the  ability  to  speak  aloud,  continually  bowed  down, 
and  so  weak  that  he  could  not  be  shaven,  had,  three  years 
after  his  debility,  received  from  God  a  wonderful  illumina- 
tion, and  in  it  the  evidence  that  he  bad  passed  from  death 
unto  life ;  from  which  time  his  faith  in  the  Son  of  God  by 
degrees  increased  until  he  believed  in  the  resurrection  or 
restoration  of  the  body  to  health  by  faith  in  Christ.  A 
few  days  previous  to  our  visiting  him,  he  called  in  the 
elders  of  the  church  to  pray  over  him,  anointing  him 
with  oil,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  (James  5:  14,  15). 
As  they  prayed,  a  power  was  revealed,  by  which  he  arose, 
walked,  and  praised  God.  We  held  a  meeting  at  the 
house,  in  which  he  arose  and  spoke  freely,  saying  that  his 
soul  was  troubled  for  the  scarcity  of  faith  on  the  earth. 
As  we  listened  to  that  voice  which  had  been  silent  for  six 
years,  we  were  surprised  and  startled  by  the  reality.     As 


140  MEMOIR    OF 

lie  cast  his  languid  eyes  upon  us,  his  face,  like  that  of 
Moses,  seemed  to  shine  so  brightly  that  scarcely  one  in 
the  assembly  could  look  upon  him.  This  to  me  appeared 
as  heavenly  as  anything  I  ever  had  witnessed ;  and  his 
language  and  remarks,  I  think,  exceeded  anything  I  ever 
had  heard  from  mortal  lips.  Our  interview  with  him  filled 
oui:  souls  with  solemnity." 

Parting  with  his  relatives  in  Compton,  which  from 
his  fine  affectional  nature  was  unavoidably  trying,  he, 
in  company  with  the  worthy  3^oung  minister  who  had 
accompanied  hhrf  from  New  England,  passed  through 
Stanstead  and  several  other  towns,  inquiring  as  they 
went  of  the  prosperity  of  Zion,  receiving  also  at  times 
a  cold  reception  from  the  sectarian  who  had  learned  to 
love  the  Church  only  in  the  form  of  a  sect ;  he  speaks 
most  gratefully  of  the  kind  treatment  they  received 
from  two  Methodist  clergymen,  of  good  meetings  held 
on  the  way,  at  Cabot,  at  Rumney,  and  other  places. 
Leaving  Mr.  Peavy  at  the  last-named  town,  he  passed 
on  to  Meredith  on  Friday,  spoke  to  the  people  on 
Sunday  and  on  Monday  evening  ;  arrived  on  Tuesday 
at  his  native  Gilmanton,  from  which  he  again  laid  into 
order  a  new  campaign  against  the  reigning  powers  of 
darkness. 

Without  dwelling  on  the  labors  that  immediately 
engaged  his  attention,  which  for  the  most  part  pertain 
to  a  field  already  described,  I  offer  a  few  paragraphs 
for  the  month  of  December  before  opening  the  chapter 
for  1816.  The  variety  of  incident  that  blossomed  on 
•either  side  of  his  path  was  evidently  schooling  the 
naturally  sagacious  mind  of  the  young  missionary  for 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  141 

wider  usefulness  and  for  higher  position ;  and  as  no 
scholar  who  has  conquered  a  language  can  tell  when  he 
learned  each  rule  and  word,  but  knows  that  his  con- 
quest numbers  uncounted  hours  and  struggles,  so  he 
who  arrives  at  the  true  knowledge  of  mankind,  so  as  to 
command  a  wisdom  that  shall  be  equal  to  every  practi- 
cal demand,  cannot  say  from  what  place  or  which 
events  his  ripened  energy  has  flown  ;  he  knows  that 
his  kingdom,  like  the  broad-breasted  river,  dated  back 
with  various  preceding  sources.  Tnese  early  experi- 
ences were  victories  themselves  ;  but  they  were  also 
unconsciously  the  seeds  of  other  victories. 

Mr.  Badger  was  beautifully  gifted  with  extempora- 
neous powers.  There  was  a  charm  in  his  voice,  and  a 
rich  command  of  plain,  apt,  and  elegant  language  ill 
his  speaking,  that,  all  in  all,  I  never  saw  equalled  by 
any  other  man.  His  voice  was  soft  and  clear ;  and 
though  not  great  in  tone,  was  exceedingly  distinct,  and 
often  thrilling.  There  was  music  in  his  discourse. 
Though  the  period  of  the  labors  here  narrated  is  many 
years  previous  to  the  writer's  acquaintance,  I  am  told 
by  those  who  heard  him  in  1816  and  '17,  that  he  pos- 
sessed the  same  natural  eloquence,  the  same  ease  and 
attractive  grace  in  speaking  then,  as  was  character- 
istic of  his  pubhc  manner  in  later  times.  That  such  a 
man,  both  from  natural  preference  and  association, 
should  adopt  extemporaneous  preaching  as  his  favorite 
and  only  mode,  is  not  strange  ;  nor  do  we  particularly 
wonder  at  his  avowed  dislike  of  note-preaching,  when 
we  think  of  the  lifeless  character  of  much  of  the 
sermonology  that  then  passed  for  the  Word  of  Life. 
Accordingly,  he  said : 


142  MEMOIR    OF 

"  When  I  see  men  going  forth  avowedly  to  preach  the 
Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  and  substituting  in  its  place 
the  doctrines  and  commandments  of  men,  I  am  grieved. 
How  many  have  I  met  with  in  my  travels  who  would  stand 
up  and  pray  that  they  might  be  assisted  to  bring  some- 
thing, new  and  old,  out  of  the  treasury,  that  the  word 
might  come  from  the  heart,  and  reach  the  heart,  and  then 
take,  not  out  of  the  '  treasury,'  but  out  of  their  postbags 
or  pockets,  spiritless  notes,  m  hich  iWy  would  read  to  the 
people.  Oh,  that  ^en  felt  more  as  the  Apostle  did  when 
he  said,  '  Remember  that  by  the  space  of  three  years,  I 
have  not  ceased  to  warn  every  one  of  you,  night  and  day, 
witli  tears  ;  '*  then  they  that  bear  the  eternal  word  to  men 
would  be  more  clearly  manifest  to  the  conscience  of  each 
and  all." 

He  also  narrates  the  following  for  this  month : 

*'  On  Friday,  the  8th,  I  rode  to  Mr.  Rundle's,  at  Lee, 
where  I  held  a  meeting  in  the  evening ;  Saturday  to  New- 
market, where  I  was  comforted  in  visiting  the  saints  ;  Sun- 
day, held  meeting  at  Mr.  N.  Oilman's,  rode  to  Exeter  in 
the  evening,  and  spoke  at  Lieut.  Thing's,  which  was  a  time 
of  serious  thought,  and  of  weeping  among  the  youth.  I 
remember  the  kind  treatment  and  the  good  spirit  of  this 
respectable  family.  On  my  return  the  next  day  to  New- 
market, I  met  a  young  man  whose  appearance  in  every 
respect  struck  me  as  being  a  gentleman  until  he  spoke. 
His  first  remark  was  a  challenge  to  swap  horses ;  and 
though  my  answers  to  his  several  bold  and  sportive  remarks 
left  him  somewhat  ashamed  of  his  familiar  assault  upon  a 
stranger,  I  felt  sad  to  think  of  the  way  in  which  the  young 
men  of  our  land,  who  might  be  respectable  and  useful,  de- 

*  Acts,  20:31. 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  143 

stroy  themselves,  and  dislionor  their  connections,  by  cor- 
rupting their  own  hearts  with  evil  manners.  The  12th  inst., 
went  to  Brentwood  and  preached  to  an  attentive  assembly  ; 
the  13th,  at  Esq.  M.'s,  of  Lee ;  the  14th,  at  Mr.  Laton's, 
of  Nottingliam,  to  a  full  audience,  from  Ps.  89:15: 
*  Blessed  are  the  people  that  know  the  joyful  sound.'  Many 
spoke  afterwards,  whose  words  were  as  falling  showers. 
The  meeting  lasted  till  about  12  o'clock ;  and  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  N<mh  River  gentlemen,  whose  behavior 
was  not  so  modest  and  civil  as  it  ought  to  have  been,  the 
minds  of  the  people  were  seriously  fixed  on  divine  things. 
The  15th,  at  Mr.  Hilton's,  of  Lee,  I  spoke  from  Luke  2 : 
11 ;  the  next  day,  as  I  arrived  at  Newmarket  Plains, 
where  my  appointment  was  for  the  next  first  day,  I  heard 
that  Mr.  Richardson  would  preach  in  the  evening.  I  went 
to  hear  him.  Ilis  text  was  Isa.  Gl :  1,  2  ;  which  was  so 
good  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  the  speaker  spoiled  it 
by  causing  it  to  speak  Calvinism,  which  seemed  to  have 
been  his  whole  aim.  After  he  had  spoken  two  hours, 
several  of  us  addressed  the  people,  not  on  doctrine,  but  on 
the  love  of  Christ  in  the  heart,  which  soon  caused  a  change 
in  the  atmosphere  of  the  meeting.  Dea.  Chatman  wished 
me  to  speak  the  next  day,  to  which  I  consented,  though 
my  invitation  to  preach  was  from  three  of  the  committee. 
In  the  forenoon  I  spoke  from  Zech.  3:9.  '  Upon  one 
stone  shall  be  seven  eyes.'  I  spoke  of  the  stone  asmeaning 
Christ,  and  the  seven  eyes  of  intelligence  that  gave  a  com- 
prehensive vision  on  every  side,  I  represented  by  his 
character,  which  looks  every  w^ay  towards  the  satisfaction 
of  human  wants  ;  also,  in  another  sense,  seven  eyes  were 
upon  him,  the  eye  of  God,  of  Angels,  of  Patriarchs,  of 
Prophets,  of  the  Jewish  nation,  of  Apostles,  and  of  believ- 
ers, all  which  disclose  him  as  the  Mediator,  as  the  fit  medi- 
um of  divine  blessing.     In  the  afternoon  Mr.  R.  began  to 


144  MEMOIR    OF 

speak  from  the  words,  '  I  will  make  thee  a  sharp  thrashing 
instrument,'  and  proceeded  to  prove  election  from  the 
parable  of  the  wheat  and  the  tares ;  likewise  from  Gen. 
3:16,  the  sentence  against  the  woman ;  but  the  people,  in 
small  parties  of  four  and  six,  began  to  leave  the  house, 
beins:  tired  of  hearinj]^  notliino;  over  and  over  ;  even  two  of 
the  committee  could  not  stand  it  through.  At  the  close  I 
offered  a  few  words,  not  on  the  discourse,  but  on  practical 
things,  and  never  did  I  see  a  meeting  so  unsatisfactory  to 
the  people.  One  person  after  meeting  asked  me  if  Mr.  R. 
was  not  a  deceiver.  I  told  him  that  he  could  not  be  so 
considered,  for  one  that  has  neither  tact  nor  skill  to  deceive 
anybody  is  not  entitled  to  so  hard  a  name,  whatever  may 
be  his  errors." 

"  The  19th,  rode  to 'Lee  and  baptized  four  happy  con- 
verts ;  the  20th,  rode  to  Stratham  to  attend  a  meeting  at 
Mr.  Brown's  ;  the  21st,  to  Portsmouth  ;  the  22d,  started 
with  Elias  Smith  for  Boston  ;  went  as  far  as  Greenland, 
where  we  parted,  as  I  received  an  especial  invitation  to 
visit  Farmington,  N.  H. ;  on  the  23d,  arrived  there,  and 
received  a  kind  reception  at  the  house  of  Mr.  A.  Peavy ; 
held  meetings  on  the  24th  ;  25th,  held  meeting  at  Chest- 
nut Hill,  Rochester;  the  26th,  at  the  Tenrodroad,  Farm- 
ington, where  I  spoke  from  Amos  4:  12:  '  Prepare  to 
meet  thy  God.'  I  continued  in  the  town  through  the  week, 
held  meetings  every  evening,  which  I  trust  were  useful  to 
many.  The  31st,  which  was  the  first  day  of  the  week,  I 
met  a  large  assembly,  and  in  speaking  the  word  of  life, 
my  spirit  was  greatly  refreshed.     Thus  ends  the  year." 

A  controversial  document,  in  which  he  answers  the 

charge  of  one  who  accused  him  of  holding  in  too  light 
a  manner  the  authority  of  the  Sabbath,  lies  before  me  ; 
also  a  few  letters  from  his  ministerial  coadjutors,  that 


REV.   JOSEPH  BADGER.  145 

allude  to  the  success  of  his  labors  in  the  same  manner 
that  they  are  recorded  in  his  own  journal.  Said  one 
of  the  ministers,  who  officiated  at  his  ordination,  under 
date  of  April  15,  1815  :  "  I  have  often  heard  of  you 
since  we  last  met,  and  it  has  rejoiced  me  to  hear  that 
the  work  of  God  is  going  on  in  the  towns  where  you 
have  been  preaching,  and  I  have  been  in  hopes  to  have 
received  a  letter  from  you  before  this."  This  is  the 
tone  of  the  addresses  he  received.  One  is  reminded 
of  the  itineracy  of  St.  Paul,  as  he  follows  the  course 
of  his  labors,  of  the  piety,  self-sacrifice,  bold  energy, 
tender  sympathy,  and  withal,  the  shrewd  and  masterly 
management  vhich  belonged  to  that  Gentile  mission- 
ary, who,  unsalaried  by  sect,  went  out  to  preach  an 
unsectarian  religion,  not  the  religion  of  dogma,  but  of 
the  heart  and  the  life.  Each  had  to  encounter  the 
scorn  of  the  formalist,  of  the  vain  boaster  of  worldly 
■wisdom,  and  each  had  to  plead  the  catholicity  and  the 
spirituality  of  the  Christian  religion  against  the  stern 
bigot  and  the  creed-loving  sectary. 


146  MEMOIR   OP 

CHAPTER   IX. 

PUBLIC    LABOKS,   MARRIAGE,   TRAVELS. — 1816. 

Renewing  his  zeal  in  the  reflections  of  the  opening 
year,  Mr.  Badger  continued  to  be  active  in  the  field 
according  to  his  ability,  intellectual,  moral,  and  phy- 
sical, lie  acted  up  to  his  faith.  He  was  no  idle 
dreamer,  but  was  a  lover  and  an  inspirer  of  lively 
times.  The  variety  171  him  naturally  called  up  variety 
in  his  outward  life.  People  everywhere  are  agreed 
in  preferring  the  man  who  throws  himself  into  the 
circle  of  human  action  and  living  interests,  honoring 
always  the  courageous  actor  whose  sword  and  helmet 
are  bright  with  use  ;  and  they  are  equally  unanimous 
in  rejecting  the  isolated  ones,  who  would  be  great 
through  separation  from  their  fellows.  Having  ex- 
perienced the  summer  bloom  of  the  religious  sentiment 
in  his  own  heart,  he  casts  himself  upon  the  same  sacred 
fire  in  which  his  own  sins  were  consumed,  and  carries 
the  flame  to  others. 

This  was  indeed  the  most  popular  way  of  taking 
hold  of  the  religious  interest,  for  it  is  feeling  that 
proves  contagious,  and  thought  immersed  in  feeling. 
Intellectual  abstraction,  even  of  the  highest  order, 
never  was  very  popular,  and  never  can  be,  unless 
mankind  should  arrive  at  some  age  when  philosophical 
intellect  shall  be  general  —  an  age  which,  in  all  prob- 
ability, is  at  least  as  far  off  as  the  millennium  ;  whilst 
it  is  equally  evident,  that  the  man  whose  thoughts  have 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  147 

an  eye  toward  practical  results,  and  toward  the  living 
heart  of  the  active  millions,  is  the  one  whom  the  people 
understand,  and  the  one  whom  they  willingly  crown. 

In  January  of  this  year,  Mr.  Badger  continued  to 
hold  meetings  in  several  towns,  often  from  one  to  three 
m  number  per  day,  and  as  usual  witnessed  the  effects 
of  his  labors.  He  speaks  of  being  present  at  the 
death  of  Dr.  Gray,  a  man  of  deistical  principles,  and 
whose  hfe  had  been  wicked.  He  visited  him  on  Sun- 
day, and  remained  till  his  death  on  Monday  evening ; 
and  never  did  he  witness  more  earnest  prayers  and 
pitiful  expressions  of  grief  than  here  by  the  bedside 
of  the  dying  unbeliever,  whose  "philosophical  fabrics 
all  seemed  to  fail  him  in  the  trying  hour ; "  on  the 
18th  he  presided  at  his  funeral,  and  endeavored  to 
console  his  disconsolate  widow,  and  his  "  four  weeping 
orphans."  ''  Strange,"  says  Mr.  B.,  "  that  souls  will 
live  without  faith,  and  strange  that  they  will  neglect 
the  salvation  of  their  souls  to  the  last  earthly  day." 
In  the  early  part  of  this  month  he  spoke  to  an  assem- 
bly from  the  merciful  plea  of  the  dresser  of  the  vine- 
yard, Luke  13  :  18  :  "  Let  it  alone  this  year  also  ;  " 
and  some  eight  or  ten  were  baptized  this  month.  At 
Rochester,  N.  H.,  one  of  his  "  small  friends,"  as  he 
styles  him,  attempted  to  draw  away  the  audience  by 
the  alarm  of  fire,  crying  to  the  utmost  of  his  voice ; 
but  the  more  sacred  fire  of  the  speaker  and  of  the 
meeting  proved  the  'stronger  attraction,  so  that  no 
essential  disturbance  ensued. 

"We  might  take  the  month  of  February  as  a  sample 
of  the  manner  in  which  his  days  and  nights  were  used. 
In  glancmg  over  the  dates  of  his  appointments,  the 


148  MEMOIR    OF 

folloTving  figures  stand  out  for  this  month :  thej  were 
on  the  1st,  2d,  3d,  4th,  5th,  6th,  7th,  8th,  9th, 
10th,  11th,  12th,  13th,  14th,  15th,  16th,  17th,  18th, 
19th,  20th,  21st,  22d,  23d,  24th,  25th,  26th,  and  the 
remaining  two  days,  which  were  passed  at  Lee,  the 
place  of  his  last  appointment,  are  the  only  ones  in 
which  there  is  no  record  either  of  an  appointment  to 
preach  or  of  time  spent  in  visiting  the  sick.  On  his 
way  from  Farmington  to  Newmarket,  he  speaks  of 
stopping  at  Capt.  Richardson's  tavern,  at  Durham, 
where  he  saw  many  strangers,  and  heard  a  conversar 
tion  on  political  topics  between  two  distinguished 
gentlemen,  a  conversation  that  ran  quite  high,  as  it 
just  preceded  the  election. 

•'  I  thought,"  says  Mr.  B.,  "  that  they  placed  Mr.  Plum- 
mer  on  a  very  low  seat,  much  lower,  indeed,  than  their  fel- 
low-citizens placed  him  a  few  days  after;  and  they  extolled 
federalism  exceedingly  high.  Capt.  T.  spoke  out  with  an 
air  of  consequence,  and  said:  '  These  runabout  preachers, 
I  find,  are  continually  propagating  the  devilish  doctrines 
of  democracy.'  '  0  yes,'  replied  Col.  K.,  '  that  is  their 
business.'  I  was  indeed  sorry  for  them.  They  little  sup- 
posed that  I  was  one  of  the  persons  they  had  spoken  of, 
who,  unlike  themselves,  had  faith  in  the  ability,  good 
sense  and  integrity  of  mankind.  I  then  rode  to  Lee, 
where  I  breathed  a  different  atmosphere  in  the  society  of 
saints." 

"  The  1st  and  2d  of  March  I  stayed  at  Newmarket ; 
the  3d,  held  meeting  at  Mr.  Sanborn's,  of  Epping;  the 
4th,  at  Newmarket,  I  was  taken  sick  with  the  measles; 
the  5th,  rode  to  Lee  and  preached  a  funeral  sermon,  also 
baptized  one ;  the  6th,  attended  meeting  in  the  evening 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  149 

at  Nottingham ;  the  7th,  through  much  infirmity,  arrived 
at  Deerfield  and  preached  at  the  house  of  J.  Hihon, 
where  I  received  the  kindest  attentions  during  my  severe 
sickness  of  one  week.  May  their  generosity  be  largely 
rewarded  I  As  soon  as  I  was  able  to  ride,  I  started  for 
Farmington,  where  I  arrived  on  the  17th.  After  tar- 
rying a  few  days,  I  went  to  Middleton  and  Brookfield  for 
the  first  time.  At  the  latter  place,  my  first  meeting  was 
held  on  the  24th,  at  which  time  several  afterwards  dated 
their  convictions.  The  2Cth,  held  meeting  at  Middleton 
Corner.  It  was  a  solemn  time.  That  night  I  could  not 
sleep,  as  the  people  of  Brookfield  were  so  much  in  my 
heart  and  mind.  The  28th,  I  attended  the  ordination  of 
J.  L.  Peavy,  at  P'armington,  and  heard  an  ai)projjriate 
sermon  from  Rev.  Elias  ^mith,  of  Portsmouth.  It  was  a 
glorious  time." 

A  sickness  like  the  one  here  narrated  would  in  these 
days  have  made  a  grcatci'  break  in  the  journal  of  a 
month  than  it  did  with  this  hardy  young  minister.  His 
body  does  not  rest  at  the  mere  assault  of  disease,  but 
moves  on  till  the  heavier  blows  fall ;  then  surrenders 
but  a  week  —  is  up  again  and  doing  as  ever.  Though 
his  command  of  Greek  and  Latin  may  have  been  in- 
comparably less  than  those  who  have  passed  their  years 
in  careful  study,  it  would  terrify  the  mass  of  graduates 
to  attempt  his  labors. 

The  month  of  April  was  busily  and  successfully 
employed,  each  day  being  occupied  with  an  appoint- 
ment to  preach,  or  with  visiting  from  house  to  house, 
in  which  he  carried  a  countenance  of  calm  and  cheer- 
ful light  to  all  he  met.  Sometimes  three  meetings  a 
daj  Avas  his  order  of  action.     At  Wakefield  he  spoke 

f 


150  MEMOIR   OP 

on  the  28tli  to  hundreds  of  attentive  hearers,  among 
whom  was  a  respectable  young  woman,  Miss  Lusena 
Guage,  and  who  within  seventeen  hours  of  the  time 
of  his  pubUc  address,  departed  tliis  life  ;  a  circumstance 
that  impressed  itself  on  all,  from  the  jact  that  the 
speaker  that  day  had  uttered,  almost  in  an  oracular 
manner,  that  the  whole  of  his  assembly  would  never 
meet  him  again.  In  Brookfield,  he  ended  this  month 
in  the  same  evangelical  spirit  that  brightened  all  his 
arduous  labor,  thanking  God  for  what  he  had  seen 
among  the  people. 

As  May  unfolded  its  numberless  gems,  it  found  him 
striving  to  unfold  the  spiritual  life  that  lay  in  his  own 
soul,  and  that  existed,  perhaps,  in  a  wintry  state,  in 
the  souls  of  others.  The  sun's  increasing  light  and 
warmth  invite  nature  to  come  out ;  whereupon,  in  a 
million-fold  dress  she  stands  arrayed  before  the  celestial 
King.  This  is  so,  because  the  sun  is  to  life  a  friend  ; 
and  is  it  otherwise  when  any  mind  uncommonly  filled 
with  the  Maker's  light  and  love  sheds  itself  vertically 
on  other  minds  ?  The  effects  are  indeed  similar. 
Now  and  then  a  late  plant  or  an  obstinate  root,  that 
seoms  to  be  indifferent  to  the  far-sent  beam,  at  last 
buds  and  sprouts  afresh.  In  this  May  month,  he 
speaks  of  an  humble  twenty  who  met  at  Brookfield, 
N.  IL,  and  "agreed  to  acknowledge  themselves  a 
little  company  of  Christians,  or  Disciples,  and  to 
lay  aside  all  unscriptural  names,  doctrines  and  masters 
for  the  name  of  Christ,  his  doctrine  and  laws  ; "  which, 
he  says,  was  a  glad  day  to  many.  "  The  converts 
were  happy,  the  saints  encouraged,  the  mourners  com- 
forted. The  Bible  alone  was  their  creed."  He  also 
adds : 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  151 

"  This  day  and  this  night  were  solemn  to  me.  One  young 
man,  by  the  name  of  L.  Whitehouse,  by  reputation  the  wick- 
edest young  man  in  town,  one  who  had  often  wished  me  out^ 
of  the  place,  one  who  had  despised  the  saints,  came  running 
to  me,  his  face  suffused  with  tears,  and  said :  '  Mr.  Badger, 
can  you  pray  for  such  a  man  as  I  am  ? '  I  told  him  that  I 
could.  He  was  in  deep  distress.  After  a  time  he  returned 
home.  At  midnight  I  was  aroused  from  my  slumbers  by 
the  message  that  Mr.  W.  was  dying,  and  that  he  wished 
to  see  me  very  much.  Leaving  my  room  and  walking 
through  the  darkness  of  night  to  visit  one  who  had  de- 
spised both  me  and  my  counsels,  I  heard  him  say  as  I  en- 
tered the  house  where  he  lay,  'I  am  dying;  and  the 
worst  of  all  that  troubles  me  is  that  I  am  unprepared  to 
meet  God.'  Several  hours  I  passed  with  him;  and  the 
more  of  such  scenes  I  witness,  the  more  I  am  struck  with 
the  folly  of  men  in  neglecting  salvation  in  prosperity  and 
health." 

'*  Arriving  at  Farmington  on  the  5th,  at  L.  Peavy's  I 
fell  in  company  with  Dr.  Hammond,  who  soon  introduced 
conversation  on  the  subject  of  religion.  He  stood  on  the 
old  doctrine  of  fatalism,  and  was  what  every  man  ought 
to  be  who  honestly  plants  himself  on  this  ground,  a  Uni- 
versalist.  After  he  had  labored  hard  (for  one  must  labor 
hard  to  support  a  false  doctrine,  whilst  the  truth  can  sup- 
port itself  and  all  who  believe  it,)  to  prove  his  theory,  I 
said  to  him :  *  Sir,  although  you  claim  to  make  God  a 
good  and  merciful  being,  you  make  him  inconsistent. 
You  prove  that  he  has  decreed  one  thing  and  command- 
ed another.  You  allege  that  he  ordained  all  things.  Of 
course  he  has  ordained  them  right.  But,  Sir,  are  you  able  to 
say  that  all  the  wars,  blasphemy,  drunkenness,  political  and 
religious  contention  we  have  on  earth,  proceed  from  your 
good  God?     'Certainly,'  responded  he ;  *  it  is  all  for  some 


152  MEMOIR   OP 

end.  Mortals  must  experience  a  degree  of  misery,  to  pre- 
pare them  for  happiness.  It  is  best/  continued  he,  'to 
have  different  beHefs  and  sects  in  the  world,  and  what  you 
term  religion  is  merely  impulse  and  imagination,  which  is 
good  so  far  as  it  tends  to  good  among  men.  The  fear  of 
hell  which  you  hold  up,  moves  many  to  reform,  and  I  think 
it  would  not  be  so  well  if  all  men  were  as  I  am.'  In  the 
last  idea  I  acquiesced.  I  told  him  that  I  never  had  known 
the  opinions  he  avowed  to  work  the  reformation  of  any 
man  ;  that  I  had  not  yet  met  a  Clnist-like  and  prayerful 
person  of  those  views,  and  that  I  had  known  them  to  be 
accompanied  by  much  profanity,  professed  in  the  grog- 
shop, and  resorted  to  by  the  vilifier  of  practical  godliness 
as  a  shelter  against  tlie  solemn  claims  of  Christ  upon  the 
heart.  I  said  to  him  that  truth  bears  good  fruits,  and 
that  I  was  sorry  that  ho  should  labor  so  hard  to  prove  a 
doctrine  of  whose  results  he  had  so  poor  an  opinion. 
Here  our  conversation  closed." 

"  Gth,  I  returned  to  Brookfield  ;  just  before  I  arrived 
at  TNIiddleton  Corner  I  saw  a  funeral  procession  slowly 
moviug  toward  the  grave,  and  being  so  near  the  funeral  I 
had  attended  when  going  down,  it  made  a  solemn  impres- 
sion on  my  mind.  I  said,  Oh,  may  I  be  prepared  for  a 
simihir  scene  !  The  8th,  after  attending  two  meetings, 
rode  to  Wolfborough,  where  I  arrived  in  the  evening, 
much  fatigued;  the  9th,  spoke  for  the  first  time  to  the 
people  at  Smith's  Bridge  ;  the  10th,  returned  to  Brook- 
field  ;  the  12th,  spoke  to  the  people  from  Job  20 :  17,  and 
though  the  rain,  which  fell  very  fast,  prevented  hundreds 
from  attending,  we  had  a  very  good  time.  At  7  o'clock 
I  attended  meeting  at  Wakefield,  and  as  I  visited  from 
house  to  house  on  the  13th,  I  remember  to  have  asked  a 
lady  whether  she  enjoyed  the  religion  of  Jesus,  to  which 
she  replied,    'I  do  not   intend   to   be   a  hypocrite;*   I 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  153 

thought  her  purpose  a  good  one,  though  her  courtesy 
might  have  been  a  little  improved.  I  was  every  where 
else  kindly  received.  The  18th,  19th,  20th,  23d,  26th, 
and  28th,  had  good  and  effective  meetings,  the  last 
appointment  being  at  Epping,  ^vhese  I  found  the  people 
low  in  the  enjoyment  of  vital  religion,  and  some  who  had 
by  experience  known  the  life  and  power  of  God,  settled 
down  upontheir  lees,  or  what,  in  Calvinistic  phraseology, 
they  would  call  the  doctrines  of  grace.  Grace  then 
became  my  theme.  I  went  so  far  as  to  say  that  not  only 
all  men,  but  beasts,  birds,  and  fishes,  were  in  a  state  of 
grace  or  favor  with  God,  by  which  they  are  daily  sus- 
tained. What  oak  or  rose-bush  can  grow  without  the 
Creator's  kindness  ?  The  oOth  I  spoke  from  Ps.  117  :  7, 
'  Return  unto  thy  rest,  oh,  my  soul ;  for  the  Lord  has 
dealt  bountifully  with  thee.'  Rev.  N.  Piper  was  present, 
and  with  many  others,  spoke,  whilst  the  glory  of  God 
seemed  to  shine  in  our  midst.  The  31st  I  was  sick  at 
Mr.  B.'s,  whose  kindness  I  can  never  forget.  The  Lord 
God  alone  can  know  whether  I  live  through  another 
month.  If  I  do,  oh,  help  me  to  live  it  more  to  thy  glory 
than  I  have  lived  any  month  of  my  life." 

No  day  of  the  month  of  June  passed  without  an 
appointment  to  preach,  as  a  glance  at  the  journal 
shows ;  and  among  the  travels  recorded,  is  a  journey 
to  Providence,  Rhode  Island.  At  Canterbury,  on  his 
way,  he  speaks  for  the  first  time  of  hearing  Elder 
Mark  Fernald  preach,  June  10th,  and  on  the  11th  of 
hearing  Elder  Benj.  Taylor,  who  addressed  the  meeting 
at  Canterbury,  fourteen  ministers  and  many  others 
being  present.  He  says : 
7* 


154  MEMOIR    OF 

"  The  16th,  I  spoke  at  the  State  House,  Providence, 
R.  I.,  and  had  a  good  time  in  preaching  and  in  breaking 
of  bread.  The  17th,  I  rode  to  Boston,  where  I  also 
spent  the  greater  part  of  the  18th,  visiting  the  Museum, 
which  made  a  strong  impression  on  my  mind,  and  con- 
versing with  Mr.  Elias  Smith,  with  whom  I  put  up.  In 
the  evening  I  enjoyed  a  very  good  time  at  Salem.  The 
23d,  I  went  to  hear  Mr.  Burgus,  who  spoke  from  Acts  8 : 
22,  in  which  he  stated  that  prior  to  prayer  or  any  other 
duty,  men  must  feel  the  love  of  God  ;  also,  that  all  who 
denied  that  Jesus  Christ  had  come  in  the  flesh,  were  false 
teachers,  as  are  all  those  who  regard  him  only  as  a 
man  ;  for,  said  he,  Christ  is  the  Eternal  God :  there  is 
none  above  him.  When  his  afternoon  meeting  was 
closed,  I  arose  and  told  the  people  I  had  two  remarks  to 
make  on  the  sermon  delivered  in  the  morning,  one  in 
regard  to  prayer,  the  other  in  regard  to  Christ.  You 
remember,  I  said  to  them,  that  the  love  of  God  was 
enjoined  as  preceding  every  acceptable  prayer.  I  ask 
you  to  compare  this  statement  with  the  order  of  facts 
contained  in  the  gentleman's  text,  which  are,  1.  Bepen- 
tance  ;  2.  Prayer ;  3.  Forgiveness.  '  Repent  therefore 
of  this  thy  wickedness,  and  pray  God,  if  perhaps  the 
thought  of  thine  heart  may  be  forgiven  thee.'  As 
none  contend  that  the  enjoyment  of  the  love  of  God  pre- 
cedes the  forgiveness  of  sins,  I  am  amazed  at  so  bold  a 
contradiction  of  the  passage  on  which  the  sermon  was 
professedly  founded.  I  then  noticed  Christ,  informing  the 
people  that  I  knew  not  the  sect  who  held  him  to  be  merely 
a  man,  for  who  does  not  know  that  the  most  ultra  of  the 
Socinian  school  place  him  above  all  men  in  the  divinity 
of  his  spiritual  endowments  ?  and  what  class,  I  inquired, 
could  more  plainly  deny  Christ  than  he  had  been  denied  a 
short  time   previous,   by  the   statement  that  he  is  the 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  155 

Eternal  God  ?  I  stated  that  I  believed  him  to  be  the 
Son  of  God,  the  great  Mediatorial  Centre  of  grace  to 
mortals,  and  that  he  has  received  all  power  in  heaven  and 
on  earth.  If  he  is  the  Father,  he  cannot  be  the  Son; 
and  if  the  plain  declarations  of  the  New  Testament  are 
to  be  relied  on,  it  is  certain  that  he  was  dependent  on 
God,  and  that  he  knew  One  greater  than  himself,  to  whom 
he  offered  worship,  and  of  whom  he  gave  a  new  reve- 
lation.* About  this  time  the  clergyman  saw  iBit  to  leave 
without  offering  any  public  remarks.  I  continued  ray 
address.  At  the  close,  many  spoke  of  the  love  of  Christ; 
and  though  we  were  deprived  of  the  presence  of  the 
clergyman,  we  had,  I  think,  the  presence  of  God,  \vhich 
was  far  preferable.  The  30th,  met  an  attentive  multitude 
at  T.  Burley's  barn,  to  whom  I  spoke  in  the  forenoon, 
from  Ps.  11 :  12,  and  in  the  afternoon  from  Eph.  4:  5, 
on  baptism.  Many  spoke  freely.  We  then  retired  to  a 
pleasant  water  near  by,  where,  with  great  satisfaction,  I 
baptized  six  happy  youth.  Here  closes  one  month  more. 
0  God,  I  pray  thee  to  prepare  me  for  all  that  may  await 
me  in  the  next." 

July,  1816.  We  read  of  las  being  at  Brookfield 
on  the  1st,  of  his  attending  the  funeral  obsequies  .of 
Mr.  L.  J.  Hutchins,  at  Wakefield,  on  the  2d,  and  of 
his  spending  the  month  industriously  in  the  several 
places  of  his  accustomed  labor.  Not  far  from  this 
time  there  was  in  his  mind  a  temporary  conviction  that 
he  would  select  Providence,  R.  I.,  for  his  permanent 
residence,  as  he  was  anxious  to  concentrate  his  labors 
in  one  field,  and  no  longer  extend  them  over  so  wide  a 
surface.     Bearing  date  a  few  weeks  later  is  a  letter 

*  John  17:3;  John  1:18;  Matt.  11 :  27. 


156  MEMOIR   OP 

from  Rev.  Benj,  Taylor,  of  Taunton,  Mass.,  congrat- 
ulating him  on  the  change  of  his  condition  from  single 
to  married  life,  and  earnestly  inviting  him  to  make  the 
city  of  Providence  his  stand,  assuring  him  that  the 
condition  of  about  thirteen  churches  within  an  area  of 
forty  miles  called  for  his  influence,  abiUty,  and  zeal  in 
their  midst.  Though  Providence  had  the  preference 
in  his  mind  over  the  several  places  that  occupied  his 
attention  as  a  permanent  home,  circumstances  seemed 
to  have  ordained  a  different  lot.  He  never  became  a 
citizen  of  that  beautiful  city. 

July  the  17th  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Jane 
Peavy,  of  Farmington,  New  Hampshire,  daughter  of 
Capt.  Anthony  Peavy,  of  that  town.  The  lady  that 
now  became  his  companion  in  the  cares,  hopes,  and 
sorrows  of  life,  was  of  the  tender  age  of  eighteen ; 
and  though  doubtless  inexperienced  in  the  trials  that 
belong  to  the  ministerial  sphere,  having  been  herself 
most  carefully  and  tenderly  brought  up  in  one  of  the 
best  of  New  England  families,  her  devotion  to  her 
husband,  and  to  the  cause  in  which  he  was  engaged, 
luring  the  brief  period  of  her  life,  was  ever  worthy 
of  the  noblest  praise.  All  the  letters  and  documents 
of  these  few  years  indicate  a  mutual  depth  of  senti- 
ment and  devotional  regard.  So  paramount,  however, 
was  the  cause  of  the  ministry  in  Mr.  Badger's  mind, 
that  the  happy  and  important  change  recorded  of  his 
social  relations  made  no  essential  vacancy  in  the  accus- 
tomed duties  of  his  profession.  The  days  and  evenings 
as  they  passed  were  continually  laden  with  his  sermons 
and  prayers. 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  157 

In  a  letter  to  his  brother,  dated  July  17th,  he  writes 
of  the  gloomy  prospects  of  the  husbandman  through- 
out that  country,  saying,  "  We  have  been  afflicted 
with  war  and  with  pestilence,  and  now  we  are  threatened 
with  famine,  which  is,  if  possible,  a  greater  evil.  I 
hope  the  people  may  learn  righteousness  whilst  these 
various  judgments  are  abroad  in  the  earth." 

"When  speaking  of  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Hutchins,  he 
says,  "  There  was  indeed  a  great  solemnity  in  this 
scene.  The  widow's  heart  was  a  fountain  of  sorrow. 
The  sons  wept  much,  and  on  the  face  of  one  of  the 
daughters  sat  the  serene  impress  of  eternity,  whilst  all 
the  connections  and  friends  seemed  to  mourn  the  loss 
of  a  Christian,  a  patriot,  and  a  worthy  member  of  the 
community.  Several  hours  before  the  meeting,  I  spent 
in  a  pleasant  grove  ;  my  retired  moments,  which  were 
very  solemn,  were  passed  in  meditation,  prayer,  and 
weeping ;  at  the  close  of  the  services  the  afflicted 
family  manifested  to  me  an  uncommon  degree  of  friend- 
ship. Though  very  unwell,  I  rode  to  Middle  ton  that 
day."  In  speaking  of  his  trials,  at  the  close  of  this 
July  journal,  he  says :  ''  It  is  well  for  mankind  that 
they  know  not  what  the  future  conceals,  lest  they  might 
shrink  before  the  approaching  conflict.  I  found  in  all 
my  trials  God's  grace  sufficient  for  me.  '  In  me  ye 
shall  have  peace,'  and  to  God  I  make  my  prayer  that 
he  would  save  me  from  whatever  is  unlike  himself. 
*Make  me  even  as  one  of  thy  hired  servants.'  "  There 
is  an  inward  living  current  of  faith  flowing  through  his 
mind  ;  nor  were  there  any  crises  in  his  life,  nor  were 
there  any  trying  positions  into  which  the  force  of  cir- 
cumstances brought  him,  that,  carefully  examined,  are 


158  MEMOIR    OF 

found  to  be  unvlsited  and  unrefreshed  bj  this  living 
water  of  life  in  his  soul.  Like  the  mystic  rock  the 
Hebrew  prophet  smote,  his  heart  flows  out  in  living 
water. 

August,  1816.  "From  the  1st  to  the  20th  my  time 
was  spent  in  Brookfield,  Middleton,  Farmington,  attending 
to  reading,  writing,  preaching,  and  visiting  from  house  to 
house.  The  20th,  had  a  good  and  solemn  time  at  Brook- 
field  ;  being  ready  to  start  for  R.  I.,  after  having  a  public 
meeting  we  held  a  conference,  in  which  brother  Joseph 
Gooding,  in  an  animating  manner,  told  his  religious  experi- 
ence, and  requested  baptism,  which  I  administered  at  even- 
ing, whilst  it  seemed  as  though  the  heavens  were  opened 
and  the  Spirit  descended  upon  the  assembly.  We  then 
walked  for  a  half  a  mile,  singing  the  praise  of  God.  After 
changing  my  dress,  I  rode  to  the  residence  of  John  Cham- 
berlain, Esq.,  where  I  was  kindly  received,  and  where  I 
found  the  company  of  Mr.  F.  Cogswell,  of  Gilmanton, 
whose  visits  among  his  brethren  were  like  the  coming  of 
Titus  in  the  days  of  apostolical  truth  and  religious  sim- 
plicity. The  21st,  we  rode  to  Farmington  and  enjoyed  a 
happy  meeting ;  the  2 2d,  being  ready  to  start  on  a  jour- 
ney to  the  South,  I  asked  my  affectionate  companion  which 
she  would  prefer  me  to  do,  —  enter  into  business,  accumu- 
late property,  and  be  respectable  in  the  world,  or  do  the 
will  of  the  Lord  in  going  forth  to  preach  the  Gospel,  leav- 
ing her  at  home,  and  subjecting  ourselves  to  be  poor  in 
this  world  all  our  days.  After  a  moment's  reflection,  she 
burst  into  a  flood  of  tears,  and  said,  '  I  hope  you  will  do 
the  Lord's  will,  whatever  else  may  happen.'  We  had  a 
weeping  time.  The  next  morning  I  arose  early  and  bade 
all  my  friends  an  affectionate  farewell,  not  expecting  to 
see  them  again  for  several  weeks.     Here   my  trial  was 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  159 

very  great.  I  had  known  what  it  was  to  forsake  father 
and  mother,  brother  and  sister,  houses  and  homes  for 
Christ's  sake,  but  in  leaving  one  who  was  so  nearly  a  part 
of  my  own  life,  I  found  that  it  exceeded  all  other  trials 
belonging  to  the  separation  of  friends.  The  24th  I  went 
to  Deerfield  to  attend  a  general  meeting.  I  was  there 
also  on  the  25th.  The  2Gth  it  was  continued  at  Candia, 
and  a  blessing  seemed  to  attend  it.  The  27th  and  28th, 
attended  the  Ministers'  Conference  at  Candia.  The  29th, 
after  the  close  of  conference,  I  heard  the  Rev.  Elias  Smith 
preach  at  Deerfield,  N.  H.  From  several  considerations, 
I  was  induced  to  postpone  my  journey  to  the  South,  and, 
in  company  with  Mr.  E.  Plan,  returned  to  Rochester  and 
Farmington." 

Sept.  1816.  ''From  the  1st  to  the  10th  I  passed  at 
Farmington,  holding  several  meetings:  the  11th,  went  to 
Gilmanton;  the  13th,  in  company  with  Mr.  Cogswell, 
started  for  the  province  of  Canada,  to  visit  our  relatives, 
and  to  seek  the  welfare  of  Z ion.  The  llrth,  arrived  at 
the  house  of  my  eldest  brother,  in  Wheelock,  Vt.,  a  dis- 
tance of  112  miles  ;  on  Tuesday  following,  arrived  at  Dan- 
ville, held  meeting  at  the  Court  House,  where,  favored  by 
the  presence  of  a  good  assembly  and  six  ministers  of  the 
Gospel,  I  found  liberty  in  speaking  the  living  word.  Our 
minds  were  mutually  refreshed.  On  Wednesday,  held 
meeting  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  and  at  Mr.  Wick- 
er's in  the  evening,  w^here  I  was  amazed  to  find  Mrs.  W. 
happy  and  in  health,  as  she  had  been  sick  for  three  years, 
and  had,  according  to  the  testimony  of  herself  and  friends, 
been  miraculously  restored  a  few  days  before  my  arrival. 
Two  years  previous  I  had  visited  her  in  her  illness,  which 
served  to  increase  my  surprise  at  her  present  condition, 
induced,  as  I  was  told,  by  simple  compliance  in  faith  with 
the   direction   of    the   Apostle    James  5:   14,    15.      On 


160  MEMOIR   OF 

Sunday,  at  Compton,  we  enjoyed  an  excellent  meeting  with 
old  friends,  relatives,  and  acquaintances,  and  on  Monday 
evening  rode  to  Ascott  to  visit  a  company  of  Christians 
who  had  formerly  been  noted  for  piety  and  engagedness, 
but  were  now  the  subjects  of  delusion.  Abundantly  had 
they  been  blessed  of  God  ;  but  instead  of  learning  humility, 
they  appeared  to  build  themselves  up  in  the  spirit  of  self- 
righteousness.  One  whom  they  styled  Apostle  and  Prophet 
was  to  them  the  highest  authority,  equal  to  anything  in 
the  Holy  Scripture.  He  had  revelations  concerning  all  the 
business  to  be  done  by  his  followers  ;  also  his  pretended 
illumination  extended  to  marriages  and  to  the  intercourse 
of  the  sexes,  and  when  his  ipse  dixit  was  given  on  these 
points,  immorality  was  unblushingly  practised.  Pretending 
to  have  personal  interviews  with  angels  he  had  six  followers, 
who,  at  his  command,  would  fall  upon  their  knees,  lie  pros- 
trate upon  the  floor,  or  walk  in  a  pretended  labor  for  souls. 
Sometimes  he  kept  them  walking  for  several  days  and 
nights  without  eating  or  sleeping,  when  they  would  fre- 
quently faint  and  fall  upon  the  floor.  They  often  screamed, 
howled,  and  barked,  making  various  strange  noises,  and 
bending  themselves  up  into  many  shapes.  They  most  tena- 
ciously held  that  they  were  the  only  true  church  on  earth, 
and  that  no  person  out  of  their  pale  was  capable  of  giving 
them  the  least  instruction.  Like  all  the  fanatics  I  ever 
saw,  they  evinced  great  hatred  and  spite  when  opposed, 
and  sometimes  they  were  full  of  the  spirit  of  mocking. 
As  I  had  known  them  when  they  were  respectable  young 
people,  and  had  enjoyed  with  them  the  best  of  Christian 
fellowship,  I  could  but  deeply  mourn  over  the  delusion 
in  which  they  were  lost.  After  spending  [eighteen  hours 
with  them,  I  bore  the  most  decided  testimony  I  could 
against  their  sentiments  and  procedure.  How  many  are 
carried  away  by  every  wind  of  doctrine,  and  allow  the 


KEY.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  161 

pure  religion  of  Jesus,  with  which  they  begin,  to  degen- 
erate into  an  alloy  of  earth  and  passion  !  Ever  may  I  be 
kept  in  the  ^lediator,  Avhere  I  shall  be  permanent  and  un- 
controlled by  the  wild  extremes  of  the  age.  The  week 
following  I  spent  at  Compton,  holding  meetings  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  town.  On  Sunday,  the  29tb,  the  assem- 
bly was  large,  and  we  had  a  weeping  time,  as  I  bade  them 
farewell  in  the  name  of  Him  in  whom  is  our  hope  and 
love  ;  and  on  Monday  visited  from  house  to  hou?e.  Being 
ready  to  depart  on  the  morrow,  and  thinking  that  it  was 
the  last  time  I  should  repose  under  my  father's  roof,  my 
thoughts  and  feelings  were  deeply  solemn,  as  I  looked  out 
upon  the  world-wide  field  of  my  future  labors.  My  very 
heart  was  pained,  and  the  night  passed  away  in  almost 
entire  sleeplessness.  Here  closes  the  month,  and  in  feel- 
ings of  the  greatest  solemnity." 

(Oct.  181G.  Letter  to  his  father.  Montpelier,  Yt.,  Oct. 
12,  181 G.)  "  Dear  Father,  —  With  pleasure  I  improve  a 
few  moments  in  writing  to  you,  that  you  may  be  informed 
of  my  good  health,  and  my  agreeable  visit  at  Stanstead, 
Wheelock  and  Danville.  I  preached  the  next  Sun-lay 
after  I  left  home,  at  Danville  Court  House,  and  in  the 
evening  at  Major  Morrill's.  On  Monday  I  came  to  this 
town,  and  held  a  meeting  at  the  Hall  of  Esquire  Snow; 
in  this  place  and  Calace  I  have  held  meetings  all  through 
the  week.  Last  Thursday  I  attended  the  election.  After 
the  Governor  was  chosen,  the  ministers  of  all  denomina- 
tions were  invited  to  his  apartment,  where  all  the  choicest 
kinds  of  drinks  were  placed  before  them,  and  a  rich  dinner 
was  prepared.  Gov.  J.  Galusha  was  chosen  by  a  very 
great  majority.  He  is  an  agreeable  man,  and  apparently 
a  real  Christian.  His  conduct  through  the  day  excited 
the  admiration  of  the  spectators,  and  it  manifested,  I  think, 
the  spirit  of  true  patriotism  and  of  sound   Christianity. 


1G2  MEMOIB   OP 

I  have  an  appointment  here  to-morrow  and  expect  that 
some  will  be  baptized.  "We  intend  to  start  for  N.  H.  on 
Monday.  I  am  in  great  haste.  Give  my  love  to  Mother, 
Thomas,  Hannah  and  all  my  friends.  God  bless  you  all 
with  life  eternal.     Farewell. 

"Joseph  Badger." 
''Maj.  Peaslee  Badger" 

Resuming  his  journal  we  find  the  following  on  this 
month.  After  meeting  a  large  assembly  at  Danville, 
on  Sunday,  13th,  and  administering  baptism  as  inti- 
mated in  his  letter,  he  returned  to  his  home  at  Farm- 
ington,  N.  II.,  the  16th,  where  he  resumed  his 
ministerial  labor.  He  speaks  of  his  appointments  in 
different  places  as  being  to  his  own  spirit  refreshing  ; 
and  of  the  sickness  of  his  wife,  and  of  outward  trials 
and  burdens  as  being  great.  His  fine  and  sensitive 
nature,  with  all  its  composure  and  heroism,  was  alive 
to  the  influence  of  surrounding  circumstances.  Great 
and  trying  must  have  been  the  difficulties  into  which 
his  position  in  the  world  at  times  must  have  brought 
him.  These,  however,  only  proved  the  strength  and 
competency  of  the  man.  He  never  bowed  his  manly 
head  in  despair.  He  says,  *'  Amidst  all  my  conflict,  in 
my  retired  moments  I  find  consolation  in  trusting  in 
God  and  in  hoping  for  better  days ;  and  before  the 
year  shall  end,  0  God,  may  I  be  allowed  to  see  great 
displays  of  thy  powgr."  His  clouds  were  always 
colored  in  part  with  the  sun's  rays.  In  a  letter  to  his 
wife,  dated  Gilmanton,  Oct.  31,  he  states  the  cause 
which  commanded  all  the  faculties  of  his  mind:  — 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  163 

"  As  I  am  so  far  on  my  journey  I  think  it  best  to'  con- 
tinue it.  Our  parting  at  this  time  is  no  less  disagreeable 
to  me  than  to  yourself.  If  I  were  to  return  home,  the 
cross  and  the  self-denial  of  our  separation  would  not  be 
diminished.  We  must  learn  to  forsake  all  for  our  dear 
Redeemer's  cause.  It  is  not,  dear  Mary,  to  please  myself 
or  others  that  I  leave  you.  It  is  wholly  for  the  benefit  of 
mankind,  and  for  the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  Christ. 
In  a  few  weeks,  if  the  Lord  will,  I  shall  return  to  your 
fond  embraces.  Be  composed  and  reconciled  to  my 
absence,  and  never  utter  a  murmuring  sigh  at  the  will  of 
Heaven." 

The  journey  he  was  about  to  take  through  the  States 
of  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  and  New  York,  led  to 
the  selection  of  the  fruitful  and  pleasant  region  of  the^ 
county  of  Munroe,*  in  the  latter  State,  as  his  permanent 
home,  a  region  of  country  which  in  conversation  he 
frequently  styled  "  the  heart  of  the  ivorld.'*^ 

November,  1816,  leaving  Gilmanton  on  the  2d,  and 
passing  through  the  towns,  Salisbury,  New  Andover, 
Springfield,  Newport,  Clairmont,  N.  H.  ;  through 
Weathersfield,  Cavendish,  Ludlow,  Middleton,  Poultney 
and  Clarendon,  Vt. ;  also  passing  through  Granville, 
Hartford,  Kingsbury,  Saratoga,  Milton,  N.  Y.,  he 
arrived  on  the  5th  at  Galway,  where  he  met  a  kind 
reception  from  many  who,  like  himself,  stood  on  the 
common  faith  of  one  God  the  Father,  one  Christ  the 
Mediator,  one  creed  and  platform  of  faith  and  church 
polity,  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  both  Testaments,  and 
one  common  freedom  of  interpretation  and   right  of 

*  Then  Ontario  County. 


164  MEMOIR    OP 

private  judgment.  Here  he  addressed  the  people  on 
the  evening  of  the  5th,  and  rode  to  Ballston  on  the 
6th,  in  which  place  and  in  adjoining  towns,  a  great 
reformation  had  occurred  under  the  public  improvement 
of  a  very  worthy  female  speaker,  by  the  name  of  Nancy 
Gove.  He  gave  to  this  community  one  discourse  the 
evening  of  his  arrival.  On  the  7th  he  was  greatly 
delighted  to  meet  his  old  friend  and  father  in  Israel, 
A.  Moulton,  from  the  Province,  with  whom,  in  his  early 
years,  he  says,  "  I  had  taken  sweet  counsel  in  a  strange 
land."  Now  he  again  heard  his  voice  in  the  public 
assembly,  on  the  same  themes  as  when,  in  his  youthful 
days,  he  spoke  with  so  much  feeling  to  his  sensitive 
heart.  In  Amsterdam,  a  town  of  some  prominence,  in 
old  Montgomery  County,  he  preached  to  the  people  on 
the  9th  and  10th,  and  carried  the  resurrection  light  of 
Christian  consolation  into  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  Green, 
whose  guest  he  was,  and  whose  companion  in  life  was 
wasting  away  with  consumption.  He  had  a  fine  faculty 
to  hght  up  a  house  of  sorrow  and  mourning  with 
hope  and  cheerfulness.  At  Milton,  Ballston  Springs, 
Charleston,  and  Canajoharie,he  gave  sermons  ;  on  what 
topics  his  private  journal  does  not  record,  but  to  those 
who  know"*his  sagacious  skill  in  adapting  his  subjects 
and  discussions  to  the  assemblies  he  m  t,  no  evidence 
will  be  needed  to  convince  them  that  for  the  occasion 
and  place  they  were  happily  chosen. 

Parting  with  Mr.  Thompson  and  family  on  the  18th, 
and  passing  through  several  townships,  as  Mmden, 
Warren,  Litchfield  and  Paris,  he  arrived  at  Clinton, 
Madison  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  spoke  on  the  evening 
of  the  19th.-    Continuing  his  journey  through  several 


KEV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  165 

to\\Tis  he  arrived  on  the  21st  at  Brutus,  Onondaga 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  addressed  the  inhabitants  in  the 
evening  of  that  and  of  the  following  day.  He  speaks 
of  having  there  met  Rev.  Elijah  Shaw,  a  man  whose 
labors  were  then  and  afterwards  greatly  successful  in 
leading  the  people  into  Ihe  inward  experience  of  the 
vital  principles  of  the  Christian  religion.  Parting  with 
these  friends,  in  company  with  Mr.  Moulton,  he  visited 
"what  was  then  the  village  of  Auburn,  and  crossing  the 
lake  on  a  bridge,  which  he  describes  as  a  mile  and  a 
quarter  in  length,  came  into  Junius,  and  reposed  at 
night  in  the  "  handsome  village,"  as  he  terms  it,  of 
Phelps ;  on  the  2Gth  he  rode  to  Farmington,  and  there 
saw  what  in  those  days  were  considered  the  "  famous 
Sulphur  Springs,"  which  he  describes  as  a  stream 
running  rapidly  out  of  the  side  of  a  small  hill,  in  tem- 
perature about  milk-warm,  in  smell  and  medical  quality 
of  the  nature  of  sulphur ;  the  waters  were  clear,  and 
over  the  current  a  light  cloud  of  vapor  continually 
arose.  I  find  that  Mr.  Badger,  whenever  his  eye  is 
arrested  by  a  scene  in  nature,  is  sure  to  group  together, 
in  few  words,  all  the  essential  quaUties,  and  nothing 
redundant  or  expletive  ever  appears  in  his  descriptions, 
"which  is  nearly  always  the  reverse  with  persons  of 
unsubjected  imaginations.  He  saw  nature  quietly  and 
truthfully.  The  journal  of  this  month  closes  with  the 
account  of  several  meetings  held  in  Pittsford,  since 
named  Henrietta,*  which  was  the  centre  of  his  early 
labors  in  this  region  of  country. 

*  In  1818,  this  town  was  constituted  out  of  the  town  of  Pittsford. 


166  MEMOIR   OP 

The  month  of  December  was  assiduously  employed 
in  and  about  the  region  last  mentioned.  On  the  1st, 
which  was  Sunday,  he  addressed  a  large  assembly  for 
the  space  of  two  hours,  and  at  evening,  in  another  part 
of  the  town,  he  spoke  an  hour  and  thirty-five  minutes 
to  a  full  house,  a  considerable  number  of  whom  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  society.  From  these 
meetings  several  of  the  people  were  accustomed  to 
follow  him  to  his  lodgings  and  spend  hours  in  conversa- 
tion. Ilis  personal  influence  had  a  power  to  charm  the 
people  ;  and  the  statements  of  scores  who  still  survive 
him,  agree  that  Mr.  Badger's  influence  as  a  speaker  in 
those  early  years  was,  in  this  region  of  country,  with- 
out a  parallel.  Communities  were  carried  away  by  it. 
Opposition  to  his  doctrine  availed  little  in  arresting  the 
popular  tide  that  moved  at  the  lead  of  his  will  and  word. 
"In  those  years,"  said  an  aged  professional  man,  to 
the  writer  of  this  biography,  ''  I  regarded  Mr.  Badger 
as  the  most  popular  preacher  I  ever  knew,  and  I  still 
think,"  continued  he,  "  that  all  in  all,  I  never  heard  a 
man  of  so  great  natural  gifts."  At  Westown,  or  Hen- 
rietta, he  ordained  deacons  in  his  society,  to  take  a 
temporal  oversight  of  its  affairs,  and  filling  up  nearly 
all  the  days  with  social  visits  and  pubUc  meetings,  the 
month  was  one  continued  earnest  effort  at  bringing 
souls  under  the  influence  of  Jesus  and  of  Christianity. 
A  theological  conversation  between  himself  and  Rev. 
Thomas  Gorton,  who  lived  on  the  Genesee  river,  which 
occurred  the  ITth,  and  one  with  Rev.  Mr.  Bliss, 
may  perhaps  interest  the  reader.  I  offer  his  own 
words :  — 


REV.    JOSEPn   BADGER.  167 

**  We  conversed  for  the  space  of  five  hours  on  different 
subjects.     He  was  indeed  very  firm,  and  all  who  did  not 
think  as  he  did  came  generally  under  the  name  of  heretics. 
At  the  close  he  offered  against  me  four  objections,  which 
were  thus  stated:  1st.  You  believe  that  the  sinner  in  the 
reception  of  salvation   is  an   active  creature.     2d.  You 
believe  in  the  possibility  of  falling  from  a  state  of  justifi- 
cation,    3d.  You   cannot  reconcile  all  the   Scripture  to 
either  of  the  three  systems  of  punishment  for  the  wicked, 
neither  eternal  misery,  destruction,  nor  restoration.     4th. 
You  baptize  all  who  give  evidence  of  their  becoming  new 
creatures,  provided  they  are  received  as  such  by  a  church 
with  whom  you  have  fellowship,  without   any  particular 
regard  to  their  belief  or  doctrinal  principles.     Thus  ended 
our  conversation.     The  next  day,  I  understood  that  this 
gentleman,  in  speaking  of  the  communion,  (he  was  of  the 
Baptist  faith,)  said  that  it  was  'absurd   to  think  of  feed- 
ing swine  and  sheep  together,'  which  caused  me  to  mourn 
that  he  or  that  any  should  have  so  little  charity  for  other 
denominations.     I  preached  in  his  neighborhood  the  same 
evening,  [he  was  prevented  from  attending  by  a  bad  cold] 
and  was  introduced  to  Mr.  Rich,  another  clergyman  of  the 
Baptist  denomination.     Asking  him  to  participate  in  the 
meeting,   I  proceeded  to  speak  from    1  Cor.  13:  13:  — 
*  And  now  abideth  faith,  hope,   and  charity,  these  three  ; 
but  the  greatest  of  these   is    charity.'     The   clergyman 
witnessed  to  the  truth  of  my  sermon.     The  ISth  I  spoke 
at  Avon,  the  19th  went  to  Pittsford  to  administer  baptism, 
tbe  20th  enjoyed  a  good  time  in  the  south  part  of  the  town, 
the  21st  had  a  very  cold,  disagreeable  time  at  the  village, 
the  22d  enjoyed  a  happy  fellowship  meeting,  the  23d  had 
an  excellent  communion  season  in  Pittsfield.     At  Briton, 
Mr.    Chapin,  a  missionary,  after  I  had  spoken,  read  a 
sermon  nineteen  minutes  in  length,  in  which  he  alleged 


1G8  MEMOIR    OF 

that  in  Christ  there  are  two  distinct  natures  united,  the 
huraan  and  the  divine ;  that  the  divinity  never  suffered, 
that  humanity  alone  was  the  world's  saving  sacrifice.  No 
wonder  that  he  should  teach  a  partial  and  a  legal  salvation. 
The  29th  I  attended  the  funeral  of  an  excellent  young 
man,  by  the  name  of  Dorous  Burr,  which  had  on  the  minds 
of  many  a  solemn  effect.  For  the  first  time,  T  met,  on 
the  31st,  Rev.  Mr.  Bliss,  of  Avon.  I  think  he  was 
naturally  a  gentleman,  though  on  this  occasion,  prejudice 
against  a  people  with  whom  he  was  not  acquainted  had  an 
overwhelming  influence  on  his  manners.  Many  questions 
he  asked  in  regard  to  total  depravity,  a  Triune  God,  the 
eternal  Godhead  of  Christ,  and  many  others  of  the  kind 
which  are  unnamed  in  all  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Not  car- 
ing to  detail  a  lengthy  conversation,  I  would  say  that  near 
its  close  he  observed  to  me,  that  my  system  was  composed 
of  Universalism  and  Deism;  to  this  I  replied,  that  the 
old  contradictory  doctrine  of  fate,  originally  introduced 
by  the  Stoics,  and  afterwards  cruelly  applied  and  industri- 
ously propagated  by  John  Calvin  and  his  followers,  was 
the  very  root  and  foundation  of  both  these  doctrines,  and 
that  if  I  was  to  take  his  statement  for  truth,  all  the  differ- 
ence to  be  found  between  us  was  this,  —  that  Calvinism  is 
the  body  of  the  tree,  Universalism  the  branches,  and 
Deism  the  ripe  fruit,  and  that  whilst  he  was  the  body,  I 
was  the  branches  and  fruit ;  and  being  so  nearly  related, 
we  should,  hesitate  thoughtfully  before  we  consented  to 
quarrel,  reminding  him  that  in  the  forest  body  and  branches 
never  contend.  After  some  show  of  clerical  importance 
and  authority,  enough  to  remind  one  that  if  the  world  was 
ruled  by  narrow-minded  ecclesiastics,  blood  might  yet  be 
shed  for  opinion's  sake,  our  interview  closed.  On  the 
evening  of  the  same  day,  I  had  a  good  meeting  at  Mr. 
Gould's,  in  which  eight  or  ten  feelingly  spoke  of  the  love 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  169 

oi'  Christ,  some  of  whom  had  never  spoken  in  public 
before.  Here  the  month  and  the  year  close.  I  thank 
God  for  what  I  have  seen,  and  for  what  my  soul  has  felt 
in  this  month  ;  and  tliough  it  has  been  my  lot  this  year  to 
pass  through  sickness  and  trials  of  many  kinds,  I  thank 
Ilim  that  at  its  close  I  feel  a  degree  of  salvation  within, 
and  I  can  say  with  Israel's  king,  '  Before  I  was  afflicted 
I  went  astray.'  Through  all  his  agencies  may  God  aid 
me  to  live  more  to  his  glory  the  coming  year  than  ever  I 
have  done.  Thus  end  the  reflections  and  incidents  of 
181G." 


CHAPTER  X. 


LABORS   AND    SETTLEMENT   IN    WESTERN  NEW  YORK. 

1817-18. 

The  opening  of  the  New  Year,  1817,  as  is  customary 
on  such  occasions,  was  attended  with  festivities  and 
social  amusements  among  the  young  people.  And  the 
following  incident  will  readily  illustrate  the  peculiar 
power  which  Mr.  Badger  could  wield  over  the  young, 
as  likewise  the  efficiency  of  the  Gospel  as  preached  by 
him.  On  the  first  day  of  January  he  spoke  to  a  large 
assembly  in  Pittsford,  from  the  following  very  signifi- 
cant passage  in  Ezekiel  36  :  26.  "  A  new  heart  also 
will  I  give  you."  The  young  people,  many  of  them, 
called  it  ^the  best  New  Year's  they  had  ever  enjoyed, 
and  many  whose  conversions  dated  in  1816  were 
8 


170  MEMOIR    OF 

quickened  and  refreshed  by  the  words  of  the  new 
minister.  Great  preparations  were  being  made  for  a 
ball  in  the  town  of  Pittsford  on  the  0th  ;  but  it  so 
happened  that  one  of  the  principal  managers  and 
another  influential  young  man  were  so  divinely  struck 
with  the  sentiments  of  the  sermon  given  on  New  Year's 
Day,  that  all  trifling,  gay,  or  mirthful  thoughts  were 
rendered  alien  to  their  minds.  Within  four  days  they 
also  had  to  speak  of  a  sweet  and  rapturous  bliss  they 
had  found  in  their  newly  awakened  love  to  Christ. 
Instead  of  attending  the  mirth  of  the  9th,  they  sent 
the  following  letter  to  their  companions  : 

a  PiTTSFOKD,  January  8, 1817. 
"  Deak  Young  Fkiends,  —  We  were  members  of  your 
intended  party,  and  anticipated,  we  presume,  as  much 
pleasure  as  you  will  enjoy  in  our  New  Year's  Ball ;  but 
to  the  joy  of  our  hearts,  within  a  few  days  God  has  done 
great  things  for  our  souls,  whereof  we  are  glad,  and 
instead  of  attending  the  ball,  we  are  prompted  by  our  feel- 
ings to  spend  the  same  afternoon  in  solemn  prayer  for  the 
welfare  of  our  fellow  youth ;  and  whilst  you  are  engaged 
in  vain  mirth,  will  you  remember  that  we,  your  compan- 
ions, are  on  our  knees  praying  to  God,  the  Friend  of  us 
all,  for  your  eternal  welfare  ?  AVe  are,  with  the  tenderest 
regards  and  love,  your  friends, 

"  J.  Wade, 
"Nath.  Swift." 

The  letter,  it  is  said,  was  kindly  received,  and  had  a 
beneficial  effect.  Mr.  B.  thanks  God  for  the  happy 
opening  of  the  year,  and  prays  that  it  may  be  crowned 
with  thousands  of  new-born  souls.     On  the  third,  at 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  171 

Pittsford,  Mr.  Chapin,  the  missionary  already  spoken 
of,  introduced  a  disputation  on  total  depravity,  which 
was  very  soon  closed,  as  Mr.  Badger  demanded  that 
"he  should  either  state  his  proposition  in  Scripture  lan- 
guage, or  definitely  exphiin  what  he  meant  against 
human  nature  and  the  human  race  by  the  words  he  em- 
ployed, alleging  that  neither  the  words  nor  the  idea 
probably  intended  were  contained  in  the  Oracles  of 
God.  Thinking  that  Mr.  B.  was  too  severe  in  his  de- 
mands, he  desisted,  with  the  accusation  that  he  was 
unfair  as  a  reasoner.  It  is  but  repetition  to  say  that 
all  these  days  were  made  golden  by  action,  calm  but 
incessant  labor.  Days  and  evenings  his  musical  voice 
resounded  on  the  holy  themes  of  faith,  reformation, 
charity,  and  peace  on  earth ;  many  a  time,  as  the  still 
heavens  sent  down  their  nocturnal  liiiiht  and  shed  their 
holy  influence  all  around,  he  returned  from  his  precious 
victories  over  the  hearts  of  his  fellow  immortals,  per- 
vaded by  a  love  that  accords  with  the  silent  glow  of 
all  that  was  above  and  about  him.  At  his  communion 
seasons  he  caused  the  sectary  to  mourn  the  rigidity  of 
his  creed,  which  did  not  allow  him  to  come  forward,  to 
follow  his  heart,  because  of  some  dry,  unvital  difierence 
in  theological  belief.  He  visits  the  sick,  speaks  occa- 
sionally in  the  private  mansion  of  some  friend,  some- 
times in  the  school-house,  in  the  grove  and  open  air, 
making  the  freest  use  of  time  and  place,  regarding  Ihem 
only  as  servants  to  his  mission.  At  Avon,  Mendon, 
Pittsford,  Pennfield,  and  Lima,  he  continued  his  labors, 
at  times  administering  baptism  in  the  waters  of  the 
Genesee  and  its  tributaries,  on  which  occasions,  as  on 
every  other  where  the  attractions  of  an  easy  personal 


172  MEMOIR    OF 

address  give  grace  and  impression  to  the  scene,  he  was 
uncommonly  gifted  and  happy.  Some  who  had  op- 
posed him  strongly,  were  so  impressed  by  the  solem- 
nity of  one  baptismal  scene,  and  by  the  remarks  he 
there  offered,  as  to  retract,  at  the  water's  side,  the 
hard  words  and  speeches  they  had  made.  "  I  felt  to 
forgive  them,"  says  Mr.  B.,  "  for  all  their  unreasona- 
ble censures.  At  Avon  I  had  excellent  meetings  the 
8th,  9th,  10th  and  11th;  the  12th,  had  an  excellent 
time  at  Pcnnfield ;  the  loth,  returned  to  Pittsford," 
and  omitting  to  notice  the  several  appointments  that 
fill  up  the  days  and  evenings  of  the  month,  I  would 
only  transcribe  from  his  pages,  that  "  the  last  week  of 
the  month  was  spent  at  Lima,  the  19th  administered 
baptism,  the  27th  attended  to  the  holy  communion, 
whilst  the  glory  of  God  cheeringly  shone  in  our  midst, 
and  to  the  end  of  this  month  our  meetings  were  full 
of  interest  and  of  feeling." 

Feb.  1817.  A  temperance  sermon  to  a  large 
assembly  was  given  on  the  2d  ;  on  such  occasions  Mr. 
Badger  was  exceedingly  persuasive  and  appropriate. 
He  was  almost  sure  to  get  the  sympathy  and  hearty 
interest  of  the  most  fallen  man  in  the  community,  could 
easily  gain  from  such  a  hearing,  and  at  the  same  time 
edify  and  entertain  the  most  elevated  men.  In  later 
years,  in  the  spring  of  1842,  he  gave  a  temperance 
sermon  in  a  village  of  central  New  York,  where  much 
liquor  had  been  sold,  that  secured  more  than  a  hundred 
signers  to  the  pledge,  and  that,  with  the  additional  aid 
of  a  personal  interview  with  those  who  sold,  actually 
banished  the  sale  from  every  store  and  shop  in  town. 
He  found  a  favorite  text  for  such  an  occasion  in  1  Cor. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  173 

9 :  25,  where  St.  Paul,  in  contrasting  the  Christian 
with  the  Olympian  races,  and  in  speaking  of  the  im- 
portance of  temperance  for  the  success  of  each,  assigns 
the  higher  motive  of  the  Christian  temperance  thus : 
"  Now  they  do  it  to  obtain  a  corruptible  crown  ;  but 
we  an  incorruptible."  He  drew  his  temperance  argu- 
ment from  the  highest  motive. 

With  date  of  Feb.  3d,  I  find  a  remarkable  letter, 
addressed  to  Deacon  M.  Sperry,  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  relating  chiefly  to  the  very  important  subject 
of  Christian  Union,  which  is  becoming  so  popular  a 
theme  with  the  thinking  and  liberal  part  of  the  Chris- 
tian world.  In  the  extracts  that  follow,  the  reader  will 
see  what  thoughts  were  common  to  ^Ir.  Badger  as 
early  as  1817,  and  indeed  earlier,  for  they  appeared 
in  his  mind  prior  to  his  entrance  upon  the  ministry  in 
the  autumn  of  1812. 

•  "PiTTSFORD,  February  3,  1817. 

"Dear  Brother,  —  I  am  happy  in  inclosing  a  few 
lines  to  you,  which  I  hope  will  be  received  as  the  fruit  of 
Christian  friendship.  "We  have  had  some  opportunity  of 
acquaintance  for  a  few  months  past,  which,  on  my  part, 
has  been  agreeable,  with  yourself,  your  family,  and  the 
church  with  which  you  stand  connected.  It  is  my  motive 
to  promulgate  peace  and  extend  happiness  in  society,  and, 
so  far  as  possible,  extend  a  real  union  among  all  the  dear 
disciples  of  Christ ;  and  as  we  have  become  citizens  of 
the  same  town,  let  us  labor  for  peace ;  as  we  profess  to  be 
*  fellow-citizens  with  the  saints,  and  of  the  household  of 
God,'  let  us  be  one  as  the  Father  and  the  Son  are  one, 
and  let  love  for  one  another  be  to  all  men  the  proof  that 
we  are  his  disciples." 


174  MEMOIR    OF 

'*In  my  travels  I  can  say  with  propriety  that  I  have 
experienced  much  sorrow  from  the  '  divisions  '  that  exist 
among  Christians,  the  party  censures  that  are  cast  one 
upon  another,  and  the  imprudent  conduct  that  obtains 
among  public  and  private  members  of  different  churches. 
Such  things  harm  '  the  oil  and  the  wine ; '  by  them  candid 
friends  are  caused  to  stumble  in  their  way,  and  the  hands 
of  the  wicked  are  strengthened.  I  have  concluded,  Sir, 
that  a  great  amount  of  the  divisions  that  now  exist  arose 
very  much  from  tradition  and  the  different  ways  in  which 
men  have  been  educated,  though  we  must  confess  that 
the  insti'uctors  or  preachers  are  the  principal  cause  of  the 
divided  state  of  the  Church.  The  censures  to  which  I 
allude  flow  often  from  ignorance,  from  self-righteousness, 
from  a  lack  of  the  '  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes  ; '  and 
we  may  say  that  true  brotherly  love  will  remedy  all  the 
imprudent  conduct  by  which  brethren  of  the  Christian 
profession  annoy  and  perplex  each  other.  These  divi- 
sions do  not  arise  so  much  from  different  parts  of  the 
doctrine  of  Christ  as  many  imagine ;  but  from  the  d|^c- 
trines  and  commandments  of  men,  which  St.  Paul,  2  Tim. 
2  :  23,  speaks  of  as  *  foolish  and  unlearned  questions  that 
do  gender  strifes;'  questions  which  confuse  the  minds  of 
thousands,  which  separate  chief  friends,  and  in  which 
often  the  mind  is  lost  in  its  deliberations  as  it  turns  upon 
subjects  we  cannot  comprehend  or  understand  ;  sometimes 
on  things  of  futurity  which  do  not  immediately  concern 
us.  Thus  we  get  lost,  and  the  foundation  is  laid  for 
Deism ;  and  there  appears  the  worst  of  fruit.  It  is  a 
matter  of  joy  to  me  that  divisions  among  Christians  are 
to  end  at  last,  '  and  there  shall  be  one  fold  and  one  Shep- 
herd.' I  do  not  make  these  observations  to  cast  reflections 
on  any  religious  people,  but  because  these  things  have  and 
do  greatly  occupy  my  mind." 


REV.    JOSErn   BADGER.  175 

"  It  may  not  be  amiss  for  me  to  offer  a  few  remarks  on 
our  present  circumstances,  although  it  is  with  great  deli- 
cacy and  tenderness  that  I  would  mention  things  of  this 
nature.  Our  condition,  and  the  condition  of  the  people 
in  this  vicinity  at  the  present  time,  is  very  critical.  I 
can  truly  say  that  the  thought  of  a  division  among  the 
faithful  ones  grieves  my  heart.  I  am  unwilling  that  the 
living  child  should  be  divided.  I  have  it  in  contemplation 
to  lay  before  you  a  few  propositions  for  your  considera- 
tion, as  we  both  have  the  responsible  care  of  others,  and 
as  it  is  now  becoming  necessary  that  I  should  attend  to 
some  regulations  that  belong  to  the  form  of  a  church.  I 
think  it  proper  to  make  my  feelings  known  to  you,  and  I 
seek  to  know  the  liberty  wherein  you  stand  more  per- 
fectly, before  I  proceed  to  the  organization  of  a  church 
in  this  vicinity.  I  thus  proceed  to  offer  my  propositions 
in  the  hope  that  they  will  meet  your  approbation  : 

"  1.  I  propose  that  you  and  I  labor  to  have  all  the  dis- 
ciples in  this  vicinity  become  united  in  one  church. 

"  2.  I  propose  that  we  appoint  a  time  for  all  who  pro- 
fess Christ  to  meet  and  confer  on  this  subject. 

"3.  We  will  agree  not  to  adopt  any  measures,  rules, 
or  doctrines,  but  what  are  clearly  exhibited  in  the  Scrip- 
tures. 

"  4.  We  will  not  call  ourselves  by  any  name  but  such 
as  the  New  Testament  gives. 

"5.  If  there  are  points  in  the  Scripture  on  which  we 
cannot  all  see  alike,  we  will  not  resolve  ourselves  into 
disagreement  upon  them,  but  each  shall  offer  his  light  in 
friendship  on  the  subject,  which  is  the  only  way  for  truth 
to  shine  in  its  various  lustre.  If  we  form  a  society  in 
this  manner  we  shall  be  in  a  situation  to  receive  all 
preachers  who  may  find  it  in  their  way  to  call  on  us,  and 
to  receive  the  truth,  in  the  love  of  it,  from  every  quarter. 


176  MEMOIR    OF 

The  truth  will  make  us  free.  The  above  are  a  few  of 
many  things  I  shall  wish  to  converse  upon  when  a  suita- 
ble opportunity  presents.  With  love  and  respect,  I  am 
your  servant  for  Jesus'  sake,  J.  Badger." 

This  strikes  us  as  a  noble  effort  at  organizing  into  the 
unity  of  the  pure  religion  of  love  and  experience,  the 
existing  theological  divergences  of  the  town ;  and 
though  the  idea  was  greatly  in  advance  of  the  religious 
culture  of  the  persons  he  sought  to  reach,  it  proves  the 
religious  elevation  of  Mr.  Badger,  and  his  extreme 
unwillingness  to  multiply  unnecessarily  the  rrumber  of 
religious  organizations.  That  mere  doctrine,  or  theo- 
logical opinion,  is  not  the  true  basis  of  the  church  ;  that 
the  life  of  God  in  the  soul  should  be  a  bond  sufficiently 
strong  to  inclose  harmoniously  the  honest  intellectual 
differences  of  the  disciples  of  Christ,  is  a  truth  yet  des- 
tined to  appear  in  power,  in  the  embrace  of  which,  a 
church,  more  truly  and  inflaentially  catholic  than  any 
•which  has,  since  the  dsijs  of  the  Apostles,  figured  in 
the  ecclesiastical  history  of  the  world,  will  probably  ex- 
hibit itself  to  mankind.  But  it  'strikes  us  as  a  rich  phe- 
nomenon, that  an  idea  so  great  in  itself  and  in  its  prob- 
able results  should  have  lived  so  steadily  in  the  mind 
of  a  minister,  at  a  time  when  the  severe  doctrines  of 
Calvin  were  so  widely  received,  and  that  it  should  find 
in  his  discourse  an  expression  so  calm  and  various. 
Many  smaller  men,  in  the  possession  of  so  great  a 
thought  would  have  made  much  ado  and  noise  about  it, 
but  with  him  it  easily  held  its  place  along  with  other 
important  principles  of  religious  reformation. 

It  would  seem  that  Mr.  Badger  did  not  so  succeed 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  177 

in  melting  down  the  opinional  partitions  as  to  unite  the 
whole  rehgious  community  into  one  body,  for  in  the 
following  language  he  speaks  of  acknowledging  a  new 
society  in  the  town,  formed  no  doubt  of  the  material 
created  by  his  own  recent  and  successful  labors  : — 

"  On  the  18th  we  met  for  the  establishment  of  a  church. 
The  persons  present  felt  a  free  and  a  happy  union.  They 
were  strong  in  faith.  Twenty-five  of  us  took  each  other 
by  the  hand  in  token  of  brotherhood  and  of  our  sacred 
union.  We  acknowledged  ourselves  as  a  church  of  God. 
Some  little  opposition  appeared,  but  at  the  close  harmony 
prevailed.  Weapons  formed  against  Zion  are  never  des- 
tined to  prosper." 

As  early  as  the  4th,  5th,  Gth,  and  Tth  of  this  month, 
we  read  of  his  visiting  and  preaching  in  the  towns  of 
Bristol  and  West  Bloomfield  ;  neither  of  the  congrega- 
tions he  there  met  having  ever  before  heard  a  minister 
preach  who  professedly  hailed  from  no  other  creed  than 
the  Bible  —  from  no  other  distinguishing  name  than 
that  of  Christian,  and  from  no  other  test  of  sacred  fel- 
lowship than  Christian  character.  There  was  a  com- 
manding newness,  an  inspiring  originahty  and  freshness 
in  the  position  he  occupied,  that,  aside  from  the  pecu- 
liar abihties  of  the  man,  awakened  the  thoughtful 
attention  of  the  people.  I  would  here  remark,  that 
the  denomination  —  for  indeed  all  great  religious  move- 
ments, however  catholic  in  aim  and  spirit,  do  almost 
necessarily  centralize  themselves  at  last  into  denomi- 
national form — with  which  Mr.  Badger  stood  connected, 
was  the  one  known  in  the  ecclesiastical  history  of  the 
8* 


178  MEMOIR    OP 

last  half  century  as  the  Christiaa  denomination;  a 
name  taken  not  from  partisan  pride,  but  from  reverence 
to  the  New  Testament  Scriptures,  which  they  declared 
were  ignorant  of  the  sectarian  creeds  and  names  of 
the  Christian  world,  and  which  records  a  period  in  the 
Primitive  Church  when  the  disciples  were  called 
Christians,  a  usage  which  had  its  commencement  under 
the  apostolical  ministry  of  Paul  and  Barnabas,  in  the 
city  of  Antioch,  Acts  11 :  26.  It  was  taken  in  charity, 
not  in  exclusiveness,  inasmuch  as  their  dearest  premises 
conceded  to  all  who  feared  God  and  wrought  righteous- 
ness, in  every  sect  and  nation,  not  only  the  name,  but 
what  is  far  better,  the  character  of  a  Christian.  I  will 
here  only  say  that  though  they  allow  a  wide  diversity 
of  opinion,  there  has  ever  been  a  general  unity  of  faith 
and  usage  among  them,  and  that  in  the  main,  their 
leading  veiws  are  sketched  in  the  early  opinions  of  Mr. 
Badger  ;  opinions  formed  from  reason,  religious  expe- 
rience, and  Scripture  revelation,  before  he  had  known 
of  such  a  people.  With  the  first  years  of  the  present 
century  this  denomination  came  into  being  ;  and  with- 
out any  one  central  man  to  act  as  their  founder  or 
guide,  they  arose  in  different  parts  of  the  Union  simul- 
taneously, and  though  unknown  to  each  other  at  first, 
they  soon  were  drawn  into  union  and  concert,  by  the 
magnetism  of  common  strivings  and  of  common  truths. 
At  Bristol  he  speaks  well  of  the  com-teous  treatment 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chapman,  the  minister  of  the  town, 
whom  he  describes  as  a  man  of  learning  ;  of  the  full 
attendance  of  the  people  at  his  appointments,  the  last 
of  which  was  principally  devoted  to  the  examination  of 
the   commonly   received  doctrine  of  election,  and  to 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  179 

those  practical  persuasions  that  grew  out  of  his  views 
of  the  individual  freedom  and  responsibility  of  men. 

''At  West  Bloomfield,  on  the  7th,"  says  Mr.  B.,  '-I 
spoke  in  the  evening,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  French,  to  an 
audience  who  had  never  before  heard  one  of  my  name  and 
sentiments  preach.  Mr.  Hudson,  a  school  instructor, 
who,  as  I  understood,  was  about  to  enter  upon  the  study 
of  divinity,  came  to  me,  desirous  to  converse,  he  said,  on 
principles,  and  accordingly  began  with  a  few  old  questions, 
which  I  judge  he  had  already  learned  from  some  clergy- 
man, as  I  have  often  met  them  in  my  conversations  with 
that  class.  He  began  in  foreordination,  and  proceeded 
to  the  human  sacrifice  of  Cln-ist,  as  he  contended  that 
what  was  divine  in  Him  did  not  in  any  respect  suffer  for 
men.  The  assembly  that  came  together  that  evening  con- 
tained several  who  were  much  prejudiced,  but  at  the  close 
many  of  them  came  forward  and  manifested  great  satis- 
faction. On  the  8th  I  returned  to  Pittsford,  spent  there 
the  9th,  10th,  and  11th;  preached  at  Avon  on  the  12th, 
at  Lima  the  13th,  at  Norton's  Mills  the  14th ;  the  15th 
returned  to  Pittsford;  the  ISth  organized  the  church, 
about  which  time  the  adversaries  of  the  reformation  took 
a  public  stand  against  us,  spread  many  reports  concerning 
the  opinions  and  sentiments  of  Elias  Smith,  of  Boston, 
which  did  us  but  little  harm,  as  some  of  us  knew  as  much 
as  they  about  his  sentiments,  and  as  none  of  us  felt  our- 
selves accountable  for  what  an  individual  in  Boston  might 
say  or  do.  The  26th  ordained  deacons  in  the  church, 
and  in  the  evening  heard  Mr.  Moulton,  who  had  just  re- 
turned from  Ohio;  the  27th,  after  listening  to  the  faithful 
voice  of  Mr.  Moulton,  we  repaired  to  the  pure  and  quiet 
water,  where  I  baptized  seven  happy  converts,  and  on  the 
28th  enjoyed  one  of  the  best  of  church  meetings." 


180  MEMOIR   OP 

In  this  little  nucleus  his  faithful  watch-care  centered, 
whilst  in  adjoining  towns  he  labored  like  a  missionary 
of  apostolical  zeal  and  self-sacrifice. 

Parting  with  Mr.  Moulton,  March  3d,  who  pursued 
his  way  to  Canada  across  the  lakes,  Mr.  Badger  started 
for  the  west ;  paused  at  Murray,  now  Clarendon,  Or- 
leans County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  4th,  to  hold  an  evening 
meeting  ;  on  the  5th,  rode  to  Ilartland,  Niagara  County, 
where  he  addressed  the  people  in  the  evening  ;  on  the 
6th,  starting  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  over 
sleighing  almost  wholly  gone,  he  advanced  through 
drenching  rain  another  thirty-seven  miles  to  reach  his 
appointment  at  3  P.  M.,  which  he  did  without  eating  or 
drinking  for  the  day  till  his  end  was  accomplished. 
He  said  :  "  I  was  much  fatigued,  but  this  was  a  good 
day  to  my  soul.  I  often  find  it  beneficial  to  fast  and 
to  pray.  In  the  afternoon  the  Lord's  holy  presence 
was  consciously  upon  us.  About  twelve  here  united  as 
a  church,  and  in  the  evening  we  ordained  W.  Young 
to  the  oflScc  of  deacon.  As  Mrs.  Young  desired  to 
be  baptized,  I  found  it  necessary  to  hold  meeting  at 
sunrise  the  following  morning,  when  we  met  a  large 
company  to  hear  the  preaching  and  to  witness  the  bap- 
tism. I  found  it  good  to  hold  meeting  before  break- 
fast. In  the  afternoon  I  rode  to  Ogden,  and  in  the 
evening  addressed  a  respectable  congregation,  who 
were  mostly  Presbyterians."  This  month,  he  assisted 
to  organize  a  church  at  Murray,  which  is  still  united 
and  prosperous.  The  locality  of  the  former  church 
was  probably  atLewiston,  Niagara  County,  New  York. 

Returning  to  Pittsford  on  the  8th,  he  passed  several 
days  in  social  conversation  and  public  discourse  with 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  181 

the  Christians  of  his  community,  who  were  alive  in  the 
joy,  light  and  peace  of  the  kingdom  of  God.  On  the 
14th  he  attended  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Abigail  Stiles, 
who  lacked  but  one  day  of  completing  twenty-three 
years  of  an  honored  pilgrimage  on  earth,  and  who  in 
her  sickness,  as  the  fading  world  grew  small  and  dim 
to  her  vision,  longed  in  fervent  earnestness  to  be  more 
conformed  to  the  Christ  of  her  faith  and  love.  For  the 
first  time  since  the  organization  of  his  society,  the 
symbolic  bread  was  broken  among  them  on  the  16th,  to 
which  many  came  forward  who  never  before  had  hon- 
ored the  crucified  One  in  the  silent  language  of  symbol. 
He  preached  at  Avon  on  the  17th,  in  the  residence  of 
a  leading  officer  in  the  Methodist  Church,  Mr.  Wm. 
Brown  ;  at  Lima,  the  19th  ;  the  23d,  attended  the 
funeral  of  one  of  his  intimate  friends,  Mr.  J.  Johnson, 
who  had  fallen  instantly  dead  in  the  prime  of  life  ;  and 
omitting  the  details  of  other  appointments,  perhaps  it 
may  reward  the  reader's  glance,  to  consider  the  follow- 
ing luies. 

"  On  the  28th  I  preached  again  in  the  town  of  Gates, 
where,  on  my  arrival,  I  was  introduced  to  a  young  gentle- 
man, who  appeared  to  feel  that  the  world  held  at  least 
one  highly  important  person  in  it.  In  a  very  consequen- 
tial manner  he  brought  forward  theological  discussion  on 
several  subjects,  which  might  come  into  the  following 
divisions:  1.  That  the  sufferings  of  Christ's  humanity 
atoned  for  the  sins  of  the  world.  2.  That  God  had  fore- 
ordained whatsoever  comes  to  pass.  3.  That  God  is  the 
author  of  sin.  We  conversed  somewhat  lengthily.  But 
as  I  was  repelled  by  his  manner  a  great  deal  more  than  I 
could  be  attracted  by  his  matter,  I  was  prompted  to  end 


182  MEMOIR    OP 

the  conversation  with  a  plain  exhortation,  in  which  I 
urged  upon  him  humility  of  heart  and  the  fear  of  God. 
'We  parted  ;  and  both  from  his  words  and  actions  I  con- 
clude '  the  young  man  went  away  sorrowful.'  " 

"  At  Parma  had  an  agreeable  meeting  the  same  even- 
ing, and  bidding  the  family  of  Mr.  Mathers,  where  I  had 
been  a  guest,  a  kind  farewell,  went  to  ray  appointment  at 
Murray.  At  Parma  I  was  much  pleased,  on  arising  to 
preach,  to  see  a  gentleman  take  his  seat  the  other  side  of 
the  table,  who  commenced  writing  as  soon  as  I  began  to 
speak.  In  order  to  put  the  blush  upon  him  I  offered  him 
the  candle  near  me,  observing  that  in  writing  he  would 
need  its  light,  and  that  I  could  easily  preach  without  it. 
This  seemed  to  frustrate  his  writing,  in  which  he  did  not 
long  proceed,  but  before  the  close  of  the  sermon  his  head 
was  gently  bowed,  and  the  tears  flowed  freely  from  his 
eyes.  At  the  close  he  came  to  me,  and  earnestly  requested 
that  I  would  come  again.  I  found  this  gentleman  to  be 
Judge  J.,  a  man  of  considerable  weight  and  note  in  the 
town.  On  the  20th  I  had  a  joyful  meeting  at  the  Four 
Corners  in  breaking  bread  to  the  disciples.  The  31st  I 
devoted  to  the  western  part  of  the  town.  Thus  ends 
another  month,  and  my  soul  is  happy  in  God." 

Mr.  Badger  continues,  "The  2d  of  April,  on  which 
day  I  held  two  good  meetings  at  Parma  and  Gates,  I  was 
invited  by  a  messenger  from  Mrs.  Colby,  to  attend  the 
funeral  of  her  son,  the  next  day,  who  had  just  departed. 
I  found  it  duty  to  stay.  The  next  morning,  accompanied 
by  Mr.  Williams,  I  repaired  to  her  dwelling  and  found 
her  to  be  a  woman  of  sorrow  and  acquainted  with  grief,  a 
person  of  respectability  and  good  sense ;  through  all  her 
various  sorrows  she  had  for  years  lived  in  the  exercise  of 
religion.  Of  six  children  and  of  two  kind  husbands  she 
had  been  bereaved.     The  assembly  was  large,  the  scene 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  183 

was  solemn.  I  spoke  from  Jer.  9 :  21 :  *  For  death  is 
come  up  into  our  windows,  and  is  entered  into  oar  palaces, 
to  cut  off  the  children  from  without  and  the  young  men 
from  our  streets.'  On  the  Gth,  at  Pittsford,  which  was 
Sunday,  after  administering  the  communion  in  the  morn- 
ing, I  gave  a  farewell  sermon,  from  Acts  20 :  32,  as  I 
designed  to  start  on  a  long  tour  to  the  East,  to  meet  my 
dearest  friend,  from  whom  I  had  so  long  been  absent.  I 
spent  the  week  in  visiting  the  places  where  I  had  preached ; 
on  the  loth,  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  I  administered 
the  communion  to  a  company  of  disciples,  the  greater  part 
of  whom  I  had  baptized;  and,  on  the  14th,  at  my  own 
house,  bade  adieu  to  a  company  of  friends  who  had  come 
to  give  me  tlifcir  parting  words  of  kindness.  These  indeed 
were  solemn  times.  Returning  east,  very  nearly  in  the 
same  line  as  I  had  come,  and  holding  meetings  by  the 
way,  I  arrived  at  Farmington,  N.  H.,  the  last  day  of  the 
month,  having  been  absent  just  six  months  to  a  day.  I 
found  my  companion  in  a  low  state  of  health  ;  we  mingled 
our  tears  together  in  thanksgiving  to  God." 

We  have  in  these  preceding  pages  a  simple  narrative 
of  six  months'  preaching,  mostly  located  in  the  old 
counties  of  Ontario  and  Genesee,  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  chiefly  the  former  ;  and  in  looking  over  the 
present  religious  aspects  of  that  fine  region  of  country, 
it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  nearly  all  the  churches  that 
now  flourish  in  these  parts,  haiUng  from  the  cardinal 
sentiments  abeady  spoken  of,  are  on  the  same  places 
and  within  the  circle  marked  out  by  these  six  months' 
labors.  At  that  time  the  county  of  Ontario  extended 
from  its  present  southern  limit  over  all  the  towns 
between  itself  and  the  Genesee  river,  including  most 


184  MEMOIR    OF 

of  the  towns  named  in  tliese  last  pages  of  the  journal. 
In  these  six  months,  he,  an  entire  stranger  in  the  land 
of  his  labors,  creates  the  material  and  organizes  it,  on 
which  he  is  willing  to  rely  for  liis  future  support  and 
cooperation,  and  before  leaving  the  people  whom  he 
had  rallied  about  a  common  centre,  which  .was  religion 
based  on  experience,  he  decided  to  return  in  the  sum- 
mer and  to  estabhsh  his  home  in  their  midst.  Accord- 
ingly, he  made  arrangements  in  the  month  of  May, 
whilst  in  New  Hampshire,  to  return  with  his  family  to 
Pittsford,  N.  Y.,  which  he  carried  into  execution  in 
the  months  of  June  and  July,  not  neglecting,  however, 
his  usual  industry  in  preaching  whilst  in  New  England 
and  on  his  way  back  to  his  new  home,  which  he  had 
provided  for  himself  before  going  to  the  east.  He 
turned  the  country  into  a  campaign  wherever  he  went, 
planning  out  his  action  into  order  and  system  always. 
On  his  return  he  had  appointments  at  the  close  of  each 
day,  and  often  in  the  afternoon.  He  speaks  of  an 
interesting  visit  at  the  famous  springs  of  Saratoga ; 
also  of  a  brief  interview  he  had  with  the  celebrated 
Lorenzo  Dow  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  as  follows : 

"  I  never  before  had  seen  him,  but  having  his  engraved 
likeness  with  me,  I  knew  him  at  once.  His  countenance 
had  an  expression  that  might  be  called  piercing.  His  eyes 
were  penetrating,  his  mind  was  heavenly  in  its  thoughts 
and  feelings,  and  his  conversation  shone  with  modesty  and 
sobriety.  His  appearance,  and  a  few  moments  of  conver- 
sation, made  the  most  serious  impression  on  my  mind.  He 
seemed  like  an  inhabitant  of  some  other  region,  or  like  a 
stranger  and  a  pilgrim  on  the  earth.  As  I  reflected  on 
his  numerous  sufferings  and  extensive  usefulness,  I  was 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  185 

led  to  mourn  my  own  unlikeness  to  God.  How  many  bear 
the  name  of  ministers  of  Christ,  who  do  not  walk  as  He 
walked." 

The  same  day  he  arrived  at  Pittsford,  thus  ending 
a  lengthy  journey  of  much  fatigue,  and  to  Mrs.  Badger 
of  some  afflictive  illness  ;  occupied  his  new  home,  and 
resumed  from  that  time  the  same  industrious  action 
which  had  before  been  so  signally  crowned  with  success. 
He  found  his  friends  steadfast  in  aifection  and  faith, 
turned  into  falsity  the  predictions  of  his  enemies,  who 
had  said  he  would  never  return,  and  in  company  with 
a  very  worthy  coadjutor,  Mr.  John  Blodget,  a  minister 
of  the  same  evangelical  faith,  with  whom  he  had  corre- 
sponded since  1815,  and  who  had  accompanied  him 
from  the  cast,  he  was  now  prepared  to  supply  the  in- 
creasing demand  made  upon  his  labors. 

Never  until  now  had  Mr.  Badger  known  b}^  expe- 
rience what  it  was  for  a  minister  to  be  involved  by 
domestic  cares,  and  the  numerous  solicitudes  that  cluster 
about  the  external  well-being  of  a  newly  established 
home,  which  in  some  degree  must  divert  the  mind  from 
study  and  thought ;  but  which  may  really  prove  its  own 
reward  by  the  development  of  practical  wisdom,  and 
by  rendering  the  experience  of  the  minister  more  akin 
to  the  daily  life  of  the  great  majority  of  those  whom 
he  instructs.  He  whose  experience  allows  him  the 
most  numerous  points  of  contact  with  mankind,  can 
best  comprehend  them,  and,  with  suitable  gifts,  he  can 
most  easily  reach  them  by  a  leading,  commanding  influ- 
ence. Mr.  Badger  was  one  of  those  men  w^hom  new 
circumstances  and  responsibilities  could  not  frustrate, 


186  MEMOIR    OF 

but  which  always  found  in  him  a  new  and  a  latent 
adequacy,  that  only  waited  for  the  outward  call ;  and 
so  much  did  his  peculiar  genius  of  self-mastery  and 
adaptation  have  its  symbol  in  the  cat,  which,  thrown 
from  whatever  part  of  the  building,  is  sure  so  to  con- 
trol the  evolutions  as  to  strike  upon  itsfeet,  that  through- 
out his  life,  which  was  bold  and  adventurous,  it  was  seen 
that  new  difficulties  were  always  more  than  paralleled 
by  new  manifestations  of  power  in  him.  With  a  nature 
evcrflowingly  social,  and  beyond  most  persons  adapted 
to  domestic  hfe,  he  now  aims  to  travel  less  into  foreign 
parts,  and  to  collect  his  energies  for  a  field  of  action 
in  which  he  might  rcgaiil  his  home  as  the  centre.  The 
absence  of  theological  sympathy  in  the  •  world  was 
nothing  to  dampen  his  zeal  or  cause  him  to  waver, 
having  himself  so  much  self-reliance  and  creative 
power  to  modify  and  change  society  to  his  own  views 
and  feelings. 

In  the  month  of  August  he  attended  some  general 
meetings,  as  they  were  called,  in  different  parts  ;  one 
as  far  off  as  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  not  less  than  a  hundred 
miles.  By  a  general  meeting,  in  those  times  and  since, 
is  meant  a  meeting  of  about  two  days,  at  which  minis- 
ters and  people  came  from  a  considerable  distance 
around,  general  notice  and  invitation  being  given. 
Very  frequently,  when  the  weather  and  season  would 
permit,  the  people  repaired  to  the  overshadowing  groves, 
"where,  in  the  free  and  open  air,  they  sang  hymns, 
offered  prayers,  and  devoutly  listened  to  successive 
sermons.  Often,  with  an  eloquence  as  natural  as  the 
trees  whose  leaved  branches  shaded  the  multitudes,  has 
the  clear  musical  voice  of  Mr.  Badger  held  thousands 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  187 

in  listening  silence,  enchained  as  by  a  resistless  spell, 
whilst  he  unfolded  some  great  theme  of  the  Christian 
doctrine  and  life.  No  man  "who  heard  him  on  such 
occasions  Avould  be  apt  ever  to  forget  the  topic  or  the 
speaker.  On  the  30th  and  the  81st  of  August,  such 
a  meeting  "was  holden  at  Pittsford,  at  -which  time  Mr. 
John  Blodgct  was  by  suitable  services  ordained  to  the 
"work  of  an  evangelist.  Also,  in  accorc^ince  to  the 
usages  of  the  time,  a  ministerial  conference  succeeded 
it  September  1  —  an  association  "vvhich  acted  simply  as 
an  advisory  body,  and  for  purposes  of  mutual  discus- 
sion and  consultation.  Such  bodies  in  after  years 
exercised  the  right  of  receiving  new  members,  who 
were  ordained  ministers  of  the  gospel,  or  licentiates. 
They  also  claimed  and  exercised  the  right  of  preserv- 
ing their  own  moral  purity,  by  examinations  of  character 
and  by  expulsion.*  In  this  month  he  preached  much 
in  his  own  town,  a  few  times  at  Mendon,  attended 
funerals  at  Pittsford  and  Avon,  and  baptized  at  Mendon 
a  few  young  men  who  had  in  the  freshness  of  life's 
morning  consecrated  themselves  to  pure  religion.  As 
the  brown  leaves  of  October  were  silently  admonishing 
the  world  of  human  frailty,  as  nature  was  pouring  out 
the  influences  of  a  calm  and  holy  peace,  Mr.  B.,  un- 
trammelled by  creed,  and  with  an  Old  Book  in  his 
hand,  whose  leaves  had  ever  held  the  greatest  spiritual 
lessons  for  the  human  heart,  was  preaching  the  salvation 
of  God  with  a  grace  and  composure  that,  in  natural- 
ness, would  compare  with  the  spirit  and  scenes  of  the 

*  It  is  stated  that  the  first  regularly  organized  Conference  in  the 
United  States,  occurred  at  Hartwick,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  181S. 
See  Pall,  vol.  ii.,  p.  169. 


188  MEMOIR    OP 

creation  around  him ;  for  emphatically  vras  he  a  son  of 
Nature,  owned  and  blessed  of  her.  In  this  October 
month,  he  says : 

"  I  started  on  the  1st  for  Hartland,  Niagara  County,  to 
attend  a  general  meeting  on  the  4th,  a  distance  of  about 
eighty  miles  from  my  residence.  At  Murray,  Genesee 
County,  we  had  a  good  meeting.  On  the  evening  of  the 
4th  I  spoke  at  Hartland,  and  on  the  5th  the  assembly  was 
blessed  with  the  presence  of  our  God ;  the  conference 
succeeding  it  was  also  very  good.  I  returned  home  on 
the  11th,  where  I  preached  and  administered  baptism; 
on  the  12tl),  preached  in  two  parts  of  the  town,  and  on 
the  18th  rode  through  Caledonia  to  attend  a  general  meet- 
ing at  Leroy,*  which  was  attended  with  signal  blessing. 
At  the  close,  Mr.  Hubbard  Thompson  was  ordained  to  the 
Gospel  ministry,  and  a  churcli  of  substantial  members  was 
there  organized.  During  this  month  I  preached  twice  at 
Mendon,  and  among  the  people  of  my  charge,  had  many 
good  social  meetings.  In  view  of  the  fleeting  character  of 
this  world's  pleasures,  let  us  draw  from  the  well  of  salva- 
tion, let  us  seek  our  heart's  eternal  peace." 

"  In  the  month  of  November  I  spent  the  1st,  2d,  and  3d 
at  Pittsford,  the  4th,  5th,  and  Gth  at  Mendon  and  Lima. 
At  this  time  tlie  work  of  God  in  no  small  degree  of  power 
commenced.  I  baptized  on  the  8th,  Messrs.  Thomas 
Smith,  Allen  Crocker,  Jeremiah  Williams,  Nathan  Upton  ; 
and  I  now  found  it  my  duty  to  return  to  31endon  and  to 
make  a  stand,  as  the  minds  of  the  people  were  inquiring, 
and  their  hearts  were  moved.  I  began  to  travel  from 
house  to  house,  and  for  several  weeks  I  held  several 
meetings  a  day,  and  in  almost  everj  meeting  there  were 

*  Now  Stafford,  Genesee  County,  N.  Y. 


KEY.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  189 

some  made  free  by  the  Son  of  God.  Among  the  incidents 
of  the  time,  on  the  20th  it  happened  that  I  met  with  Mr. 
Cook,  a  clergyman  of  Lima,  who  presented  me  with  this 
text  on  which  to  preach,  1  John  3  :  1 G  : '  Hereby  perceive 
we  the  love  of  God,  because  he  laid  down  his  life  for  us ; ' 
—  a  text  given  without  doubt  to  serve  as  an  embarrass- 
ment, inasmuch  as  the  word  God,  which  is  supplied  by  the 
translators,  seems  to  apply  to  Him  who  laid  down  his  life 
for  us.  It  was  easy  to  see  that,  supposing  the  pronoun 
be  to  refer  to  the  Son  of  God,  who  is  so  often  spoken  of 
in  the  preceding  part  of  the  chapter,  the  only  inference 
that  follows  is,  that  his  death  is  a  display  of  God's  love, 
which  is  the  doctrine  of  the  entire  New  Testament ;  or, 
stripping  the  passage  of  the  supplied  words,  it  only  teaches 
that  Christ  proved  his  love  by  laying  down  his  life  for  us. 
I  had  a  fine  time  in  speaking,  as  the  text  was  a  help  and 
not  an  embarrassment  to  my  mind.  He,  however,  made 
some  opposition,  and  stated  that  the  Eternal  God  died  on 
the  cross.     This  was  evidently  to  his  own  hurt." 

'*  Several  of  our  meetings,  held  at  sunrise,  were  attend- 
ed with  good.  On  the  25th  I  baptized  fifteen  who  had  the 
inward  evidence  that  they  had  passed  from  death  unto  life. 
This  was  a  day  of  brightness  ;  and  thus,  as  from  the  giving 
hand  of  God,  the  work  continued.  On  the  24tli  eighteen 
united  as  a  church,  and  December  2d,  six  others  were 
added  to  their  number ;  on  the  4th  eight  were  baptized, 
and  thus  in  Mendon  and  Lima  the  work  continues  to  the 
joy  of  the  saints  and  to  the  confusion  of  enemies.  A  way 
also  opens  into  West  Bloomfield.  At  Mendon,  for  the 
first  time,  we  had  a  blessed  communion  on  the  28th — a 
communion  to  which  all  who  worship  God,  and  who  love 
the  way  of  holiness  were  invited,  entirely  without  regard 
to  their  different  theories  of  religion.  Many  others  were 
also  added  this  month.     In  peace  the  year  closes,  and  I 


190  MEMOIR    OF 

thank  the  Father  of  all  goodness  for  the  trials  and  blessings 
it  has  brought.  May  the  next  be  illuminated  hy  thy  Pres- 
ence ! " 

Only  observing  that  since  the  world  begun,  sucJimen 
have  always  seen  and  made  others  see  the  fruits  of 
their  labors,  that  the  power  to  make  the  frozen  soul  of 
the  world  melt  and  run  in  liquid  streams,  is  one  that 
never  leaves  its  owner  friendless  or  without  a  sceptre 
and  a  helm,  I  would  proceed  to  lay  before  the  reader 
more  of  his  truthful  narrative.  From  letters  received, 
bearing  date  1817,  we  judge  that  considerable  success 
attended  the  efforts  of  his  fellow  laborers  abroad  ;  let- 
ters from  the  Peavys,  from  Blodget,  King,  Martin  and 
Shaw ;  and  if  space  would  permit,  we  might  quote 
largely  from  two  or  three  of  his  own  controversial  let- 
ters in  which  he  kindly  and  candidly  corrects  the  mis- 
representations of  some  opposing  clergymen,  and  with 
his  peculiar  faculty  for  making  others  feel  the  point  of 
his  pen  when  he  chose  to  do  so,  he  reasons  on  the  prin- 
ciples of  his  faith.  We  venture  only  a  couple  of 
paragraphs  from  nearly  the  close  : 

"  That,  Sir,  which  bore  with  the  greatest  weight  on  my 
mind,  was  your  manner  of  introducing  this  subject  before 
the  people.  You  say  that  Mr.  Smith,  of  Boston,  is  the 
founder  of  the  people  called  Christians,  and  that  I  get  my 
doctrine  from  his  Bible  Dictionary.  But,  Sir,  Mr.  S.  was 
never  the  founder  of  any  doctrine  that  ever  I  preached  ; 
nor  is  his  dictionary  any  more  a  criterion  with  me  than  is 
that  of  Mr.  "Wood  a  criterion  with  yoji  and  with  your 
brethren.  To  me,  Brown's,  Barclay's,  Butterworth's, 
Parish's,  Smith's,  and  Wood's  are  all  alike  ;  there  is  valua- 


KEY.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  191 

ble  information,  and  there  are  errors  in  them  all,  for  which 
I  am  wholly  unaccountable.  For  Mr.  Smith's  errors  lam 
no  more  responsible  than  you  are  for  Mr.  Wood's.  I  am 
not  his  counsellor.  I  am  accountable,  Sir,  for  no  errors 
but  my  own  ;  for  these  I  am  willing  to  answer  now  and  at 
the  Judgment.  Still,  I  shall  notice  your  quotation  of  Mr. 
Smith's  writings,  for  I  esteem  them  incorrect  and  unfair. 
His  writings,  some  of  them,  are  undoubtedly  very  errone- 
ous ;  so  are  some  of  Mr.  Wesley's  and  Mr.  Fletcher's  ;  but 
can  this  prove  that  there  is  nothing  good  in  them,  or  that 
their  writings  are  all  bad  ?  Had  I  selected  some  things 
from  Mr.  Wesley's  Notes  on  the  New  Testament,  or  some 
sketches  from  the  Discipline  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  told  the  people  that  these  were  the  faith  of 
all  the  Methodists,  I  should  certainly  have  been  unfair,  for 
many  have  discovered  greater  light  and  have  offered  their 
dissent  from  these  writings.  Yet  these  men  were  lumina- 
ries for  the  day  that  brought  them  forth.  I  would  not 
injure  the  kind  feelings  of  my  numerous  Methodist  friends  ; 
but  what  would  Mr.  E.  say,  should  I  go  into  a  place  hold- 
ing in  my  hand  Mr.  Wesley's  sermon  on  Rom,  8  :  21, 
which  proves  that  the  beasts  will  go  to  heaven  and  share 
in  immortality  ?  —  or  his  sermon  on  the  Lord's  Supper, 
which  proves  it  right,  or  which  admits  the  unconverted  to 
the  communion  ?  —  then  should  I  say  that  Mr.  R.  believes 
exactly  thus,  before  I  had  seen  or  heard  you,  would  you 
not  call  it  unfair  ?  This  is  the  light  in  which  I  view  your 
recent  conduct. 

*'  In  quoting  Mr.  Smith,  you  have  taken  two  whole 
sentences  and  part  of  another,  and  have  so  put  them 
together  as  to  make  but  one  sentence.  I  think  I  can 
satisfy  you  that  this  is  wrong,  incorrect  and  unfair.  By 
the  same  method  I  can  prove  that  Joseph  Badger  should 
go  and  hang  himself;  yet  we  both  know  that  the  act  would 


192  MEMOIR    OF 

be  criminal.  You  find  the  word  Joseph  in  Gen.  45  :  28, 
the  word  Badger  you  meet  in  Ezekiel  IG:  10th  verse; 
Matt.  27  :  5,  affirms  of  Judas  that '  he  went  out  and  hanged 
himself;'  this  is  Scripture.  'Go  and  do  thou  likewise,' is 
also  Scripture.  Now,  Sir,  were  you  to  collect  these  Scrip- 
tures by  using  boldly  the  principle  of  which  I  complain, 
you  have  the  following,  viz.,  '  And  he  went  out  and  hanged 
himself — 'Joseph  Badger,  go  thou  and  do  likewise.' 
By  splitting  a  sentence  of  one  of  David's  Psalms,  you  have 
the  saying,  '  There  is  no  God,'  —  but  who  would  dare  to 
charge  the  king  with  atheism  ?  I  hope,  dear  Sir,  that  the 
plain  remarks  I  have  made  will  teach  you  the  impropriety 
of  your  course,  that  you  will  be  constrained  to  make  some 
handsome  retraction,  and  that  you  will  never  again  descend 
from  your  higli  and  honorable  station  to  awaken  the  pre- 
judices of  the  ignorant  against  those  whom  God  delights 
to  honor  and  to  bless." 

In  the  present  day  of  both  genuine  and  of  boasted 
liberality,  we  are  apt  to  think  of  the  old  pioneers  as 
more  narrow  than  ourselves.  We  may  be  unjust  in 
this.  Mr.  Badger  and  his  coadjutors  stood  on  very 
broad  grounds,  their  liberality  being  the  liberality  of 
vital  religion,  not  the  liberality  of  mere  intellectual 
speculation  and  of  doubt.  They /^arec?  being  a  sect. 
The  following  lines  from  Rev.  Elijah  Shaw,  dated 
Camillus,  December  17,  1817,  are  an  index  of  the 
unsectarian  freedom  of  many  minds  : 

*'  I  will  do  the  same  about  a  Conference  that  I  said  I 
would  do  in  my  recent  letter.  I  am,  and  have  been  for 
many  months,  about  dead  to  all  denominations  on  earth. 
There  is  so  much  done  to  build  up  and  keep  up  denomina- 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  193 

tions  that  I  am  sick  of  it.  Many  have  spoken  against 
'  our  religion ;'  but  are  not '  Christian  brethren/  '  Christian 
preachers,'  &:c.,  as  much  *  our  reb'gion  '  as  anything  else  ? 
Those  who  want  such  sectarianism  may  have  it.  I  hate  it 
and  leave  it  tbrever." 

Perhaps,  indeed,  it  may  be  said,  that  the  nearer  we 
get  to  the  origin  of  denominations,  the  more  catholic 
we  shall  often  find  them.  Methodism  at  first  was  not 
a  creed,  but  rather  a  largo  revival  of  religion  in  the 
world,  which  asked  no  man,  whether  minister  or  layman, 
a  solitary  question  concerning  his  belief.  Age  may  tend 
to  contract  sects,  as  coal  contracts  iron  and  water. 
The  denominational  paths  of  the  world  are  apt  to  open 
somewhat  largely  ;  nor  in  their  ending  would  we  say 
that  they  exactly  fulfil  the  descriptions  of  a  tourist, 
concerning  our  western  roads,  which,  he  said,  opened 
widely  and  promisingly  under  the  umbrage  of  magnifi- 
cent trees,  but  gradually  grew  narrower  and  narrower 
in  the  pursuit,  till  they  at  last  terminated  in  a  squirrel 
track,  and  runup  a  tree. 

Opening  the  pages  of  1818,  we  find  Mr.  B.  breast- 
ing the  wintry  storms  and  treading  the  snows  of  January, 
preaching  to  his  flock  at  Pittsford,  administering  the 
communion  at  Leroy,  holding  forth  at  Lima  and  at 
Mendon,  and  attending  to  the  funeral  obsequies  of  de- 
parted friends.  He  speaks  of  the  funeral  he  attended 
on  the  19th,  of  the  wife  of  Capt.  Dewey,  at  Mendon, 
as  to  him  a  solemn  and  a  joyful  day.  In  the  Christian 
Herald,  January  21,  he  said : 

*'  It  is  now  glorious  times  in  different  parts  of  this  coun- 
try.    In  Mendon,  Lima,   Groveland,  Bloomfield,  Leroy, 
9 


194  MEMOIR    OF 

Hartland,  Covington,  Cato,  Camillus,  and  Livonia,  the 
Lord's  work  is  now  spreading.  I  intend  in  a  few  months 
to  give  the  names  of  the  ministers  and  churches  in  this 
part  of  New  York.  Within  one  year  I  have  baptized 
about  100  in  this  region  of  the  country.  A  few  of  us  in 
these  parts  are  about  to  adopt  the  mode  of  ordaining 
elders  in  each  church  to  '  rule  well/  not  merely  to  see  to 
the  *  widows '  or  temporal  cares  of  the  church,  but  to  have 
an  oversight  of  the  flock,  without  being  called  to  labor  in 
word  and  doctrine.  See  1  Timothy  9  :  17  ;  Acts  15:  6; 
Titus  1:5;  Acts  14:23.  I  have  learned  that  it  is  a 
small  part  of  a  minister's  duty  to  preach  and  baptize." 

He  made  a  visit  to  Niagara  County  in  the  month  of 
February,  which  was  attended  with  good  results,  whilst 
his  success  at  home,  at  Lima  and  Mcndon  was  unabated. 
*'A  large  number  was  added  to  the  company  of  the 
prayerful."  In  the  month  of  March,  he  again  preached 
in  West  Bloomfield,  a  town  that  seemed  to  have  in  it 
several  free  and  inquiring  minds.  At  South  Lima  he 
baptized  five  persons  on  the  11th,  the  15th  preached 
at  Mcndon,  where  the  prospects  of  his  cause  were 
growing  continually  brighter,  and  on  the  2 2d  preached 
and  administered  baptism-  at  Livonia.  He  now  found 
from  a  survey  of  the  field  of  his  success  that  it  was 
best  k>  change  his  residence,  to  take  up  his  abode  in 
the  adjoining  and  flourishing  town  of  Mendon  ;  and 
never  delaying  the  execution  of  purposes  that  once 
were  thoroughly  formed  in  his  mind,  he,  with  the  coop- 
eration of  kind  friends,  was  conveniently  located  in 
this  town  as  early  as  the  20th.  The  last  days  of  March 
were  devoted  to  the  people  of  Hartland.  April,  May, 
and  June  witnessed  additions  to  the  fraternity  he  had 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  195 

gathered  —  a  fraternity  whose  aim  above  everything 
else,  would  seem  to  have  been  the  cultivation  of  the 
powers  and  the  joys  of  the  spiritual  life.  They  were 
evidently  inspired  by  sacred  feehngs,  by  inward  joys  of 
experience,  and  so  strongly  did  they  love  religion,  that 
theology  in  the  common  sense,  was  to  them  a  very 
subordinate  matter. 

In  the  month  of  July,  in  company  with  ministers  D. 
Millard,  E.  Sharp,  and  J.  Blodget,  he  journeyed  to 
Niagara  Falls,  attending  on  the  way  three  general 
meetings,  one  at  Covington,  Genesee  County,  N.  Y., 
the  others  at  Murray  and  Royalton.  At  the  great 
cataract,  which  less  at  that  time  than  now,  drew  trav- 
ellers from  every  part  of  the  country,  we  have  not  a 
distinct  record  of  his  impressions.  At  Covington,  June 
21st,  he  gave  a  discourse  in  the  grove,  from  Isaiah  42  : 
1  :  "  Behold  my  servant,  Avhom  I  uphold,  mine  elect, in 
whom  my  soul  delighteth  :  I  have  put  my  spirit  upon 
him  ;  he  shall  bring  forth  judgment  to  the  Gentiles  "  — 
a  sermon  which  was  reported  in  the  religious  free  press 
of  that  day  as  one  well  adapted  "  to  confirm  the  people 
in  the  truth,"  as  one  that  exliibited  Christ  as  the  elect 
alluded  to  in  this  passage.  "  Many  of  the  doctrines  of 
men,"  said  two  reporters,  "  were  proved  absurd,  and 
ingeniously  set  aside.  The  exhortation,"  said  •they, 
"  was  as  arrows  to  the  unconverted."  August  was 
passed  chiefly  at  home  ;  in  September  he  journeyed  to 
the  East  as  far  as  Cooperstown,  gave  five  discourses  in 
Hartwick,  and  in  adjoining  villages  preached  to  large 
and  attentive  assemblies.  In  this  region  of  Otsego 
there  still  flourish  societies  of  the  Christian  name  and 
sentiments.     In  the  published  reports  of  the  meeting 


196  MEMOIR    OF 

at  Hartwlck,  I  find  it  stated  that  Mr.  Badger,  in  a  pleas- 
ant grove,  September  27,  preached  the  third  discourse 
from  James  1 :  25  :  "  But  whoso  looketh  into  the  per- 
fect law  of  liberty,  and  continueth  therein,  he  being 
not  a  forgetful  hearer,  but  a  doer  of  the  work,  this 
man  shall  be  blessed  in  his  deed."  The  reporter  adds, 
<'  The  end  of  the  old  law  was  first  noticed,  and  the 
imperfection  that  pertained  to  it.  2.  The  perfect  law 
of  liberty  was  then  portrayed,  and  the  manner  in  which 
people  might  look  into  it  and  continue  therein.  3.  The 
blessing  promised  to  the  doer  of  the  work.  This  dis- 
course was  to  the  saints  comforting,  and  to  an  attentive 
assembly  enlightening.  The  meeting  then  closed  with 
songs  and  prayer."  Sunday  morning  the  assembly 
again  convened  under  the  kindly  shadows  of  the  prime- 
val trees.  The  morning  passed  away  under  the  speak- 
ing of  a  somewhat  popular  orator,  Mr.  Howard  ;  "  in 
the  afternoon,"  continues  the  writer,  "  J.  Badger  spoke 
from  Rev.  7  :  17  ;  a  most  glorious  theme.  When 
speaking  of  the  Lamb  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  —  of 
his  feeding  the  saints — of  his  leading  them  to  foun- 
tains of  living  water  ;  that  God,  even  the  Father, 
should  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes ;  the  saints 
rejoiced  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God,  and  strangers 
wept,  desirous  to  share  in  the  great  salvation.  The 
meeting  then  closed,  though  the  people  seemed  unwill- 
ing to  depart."  There  is  something  beautiful  in 
turning  nature  into  a  temple  of  worship,  in  mingling 
hymns  with  the  voices  of  the  breeze,  in  speaking  and 
hearing  truth  within  the  innocent  gaze  of  flowers. 
Their  latent  influence  is  a  gleam  of  divinity  to  all,  and 
easily  mingles  with  every  sincere  note  that  may  ever 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  197 

be  struck  from  worshipful  hearts.  As  I  passed  through 
that  region  of  the  State  in  1850,  there  were  still  many 
to  remember  the  golden  times  of  the  past,  and  to  them 
the  name  of  Joseph  Badger  was  still  a  reverence  and 
a  charm. 

In  a  writtten  address,  to  the  Confcrential  Session 
holden  at  Ilartwick,  at  this  time,  to  which  tAvo  other 
names  besides  his  own  are  affixed,  some  traces  of  his 
mind  are  visible.  In  that  address  is  the  following  truly 
catholic  sentiment :  — 

"  Eemember  that  this  is  a  free  country  in  which  we 
live,  and  we  ought  to  be  as  willing  to  let  others  think  as 
to  think  ourselves.  Others'  rights  are  as  dear  to  them  as 
ours  are  to  us,  and  if  a  Cliristian  friend  does  not  think  as 
we  do  it  is  evident  that  we  do  not  think  as  he  does. 
While  we  trace  the  pages  of  ecclesiastical  history,  and 
view  the  uncharitable  conduct  of  priests  and  rulers  in  this 
respect,  we  mourn  the  lack  of  charity,  and  feel  in  duty 
bound  to  warn  our  brethren  against  such  pernicious  prac- 
tices. *  Let  us  stand  fast  in  the  liberty  wherewith  Christ 
has  made  us  free.' " 

The  month  of  October,  which  was  passed  at  home 
and  in  neighboring  towns,  brought  some  additions  to 
his  cause  ;  and  November,  which  was  chiefly  employed 
in  the  same  way,  was  distinguished  by  a  theological 
debate,  held  with  Rev.  Mr.  T.,  chiefly  on  the  Trinity 
and  on  the  Supreme  Deity  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  de- 
bate lasted  two  days  ;  some  other  clergymen  became 
in  a  degree  involved  in  it ;  and  from  a  minister  then 
present  I  offer  the  following  lines  :  — 


198  MEMOIR    OF 

*'  Under  all  circumstances  Mr.  Badger  possessed  a  pecu- 
liar command  of  himself.  He  never  permitted  ruffled 
feelings  to  throw  him  into  confusion  or  derange  his  clear 
equilibrium  of  mind.  His  ideas  were  always  clear,  and 
his  command  of  lanj^uaore  full  and  free.  Thus  he  was 
always  prepared  on  every  sudden  emergency.  Some  of 
his  best  polemical  efforts  were  called  out  on  the  spur  of 
the  occasion,  and  seemingly  without  any  forethought.  This 
intuitive  gift  always  rendered  him  ready,  be  the  occasion 
what  it  might  that  called  him  to  speak,  and  especially  if 
to  repel  the  attack  of  a  religious  opponent.  Nor  did  he 
lack  occasions  of  the  kind.  In  the  first  spread  of  the 
Christian  sentiments  in  western  New  York,  public  attacks 
on  doctrinal  subjects  were  common,  and  clergymen  of 
various  orders  would  frequently,  after  the  close  of  an 
afternoon  or  evening  discourse,  rise  and  ask  questions 
about  the  doctrine  entertained.  On  occasions  like  these 
Mr.  B.  was  about  sure  to  leave  his  opponent  in  the  con- 
dition of  defeat.  In  every  such  instance  he  gained 
decided  advantage  and  won  the  sympathy  and  influence 
of  the  masses. 

"  In  several  instances  he  was  called  out  by  challenges 
for  public  discussion.  On  such  occasions  he  evinced  him- 
self a  cool,  deliberate,  shrewd  manager.  Often  it  would 
be  said  among  those  who  heard  his  speeches,  '  What  a 
lawyer  he  would  have  made  ! '  Whilst  his  opponent  was 
speaking  he  usually  took  down  notes,  which  he  could  do 
with  great  rapidity.  Wo  then  to  his  antagonist,  where 
he  left  weak  points  in  argument,  as  Mr.  B.  was  sure  to 
fasten  upon  them  in  a  manner  that  not  only  exposed  them, 
but  completely  withered  their  effect.  He  had  great  skill 
in  making  his  own  arguments  stand  out  in  all  their  strength, 
and  in  stripping  those  of  his  opponent  of  all  their  seeming 
worth  or  value.     Occasionally,  after  he  had  made  a  solid 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  199 

fortress  bj  candid  argument,  he  would  let  loose  a  volley 
of  sarcasm  which  was  perfectly  scathing,  and  was  very 
apt  to  so  affect  the  opposite  party  as  to  produce  confusion 
of  mind,  one  of  the  first  elements  of  defeat." 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  T ,  an  aged  and  able   Congrega- 

tionalist  minister,  had  sent  a  request  to  Mr.  B.  to  call  on 
him  when  convenient.  Some  weeks  subsequent,  Mr. 
Badger,  in  company  with  D.  IMillard,  of  West  Bloomfield, 
called  at  his  dwelling,  but  learned  that  he  was  absent. 
Shortly,  as  they  passed  on,  they  met  Mr.  T.,  to  whom  they 
introduced  themselves ;  Mr.  B.  acknowledging  the  receipt 
of  Mr.  T.'s  request.  Mr.  T.  soon  asked  him  if  he  believed 
the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  the  Supreme  Deity  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  Total  Depravity,  to  which  Mr.  B.  answered, 
after  drawing  him  out  on  the  meaning  of  the  terms  he 
employed,  that  he  could  not  endorse  all  the  views  which 
Mr.  T.  entertained  on  these  matters.  '  I  perceive,'  says 
Mr.  T.,  '  that  you  are  wholly  off  from  Gospel  ground.' 
*  Then  you  should  be  alarmed  at  our  danger  and  convince 
us  of  our  errors,'  said  Mr.  Badger.  *  Well,  call  on  me 
and  I  will  do  it,'  was  his  reply.  The  time  was  agreed 
upon,  and  about  ten  days  afterward  quite  a  congregation 
assembled  at  the  time  and  place  selected,  to  hear  Mr.  T. 
show  Messrs.  Badger  and  Millard  their  errors.' 

"  The  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  was  first  investigated, 
each  speaking  twenty  minutes  on  a  side.  Mr.  T.  led  off, 
and  dwelt  much  on  the  awfulness  of  the  doctrine  to  be 
discussed,  that  none  could  be  Christians  without  believing 
it.  He  said  cases  had  occurred,  where  persons  impiously 
denying  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  had  been  cut  off  by 
fearful  judgments  sent  immediately  from  Heaven.  Arius, 
for  instance,  whose  death  was  sudden  and  awful,  a  fate  he 
met  soon  after  Constantine  had  recalled  him  to  Constan- 
tinople, from  a  state  of  banishment,    for  rejecting   the 


200  MEMOIR   OP 

doctrine  of  the  Trinity.  To  this  speech  Mr.  Millard  replied 
stating  that  he  could  not  see  that  any  doctrine  could  be 
awfully  important  which  is  not  even  named  in  the  Bible ; 
that  he  could  see  no  cause  for  introducing  the  melancholy 
death  of  Arius,  unless  it  was  to  frighten  the  assembly  into 
the  belief  that  they  would  be  apt  to  experience  a  loss 
similar  to  that  of  Arius  if  they  should  deny  the  Trinity ; 
and  that  Mosheim's  Church  History  contained  evidence 
to  show  that  Arius  was  secretly  poisoned  by  his  enemies." 
"  In  his  next  speech,  Rev.  Mr.  T.  entered  systematically 
on  tlie  arguments  usually  adduced  on  the  Trinitarian  side. 
In  justice  I  would  say  he  did  it  with  ability.  Mr.  Badger 
followed  him  in  four  set  speeches,  and  Mr.  Millard  in 
three.  They  both  amply  sustained  their  ground,  but  Mr. 
Badger's  adroitness  and  skilful  management  were  peculiarly 
conspicuous  to  all  present.  The  way  he  met  the  proof 
texts  presented  on  the  opposite  side,  his  critical  analysis 
of  a  trio  of  persons  in  one  being,  together  with  the 
absurdity  of  the  two-nature  scheme,  made  a  very  con- 
vincing impression  on  the  minds  of  many  then  present. 
I  should  extend  this  article  too  far  were  I  to  attempt  to 
give  specimens  of  the  arguments  he  used.  The  debate 
closed  that  day  with  an  appointment  to  renew  it  one  week 
afterward.  At  tlie  next  meeting  a  crowded  assembly 
attended.  An  able  Presbyterian  minister  was  present,  as 
a  colleague  with  Mr.  T.  in  the  debate.  I  think  Mr. 
Badger  led  off  on  that  day.  In  his  first  speech  he  re- 
viewed the  points  gained  at  the  previous  meeting.  He 
showed  just  where  the  discussion  then  stood  and  chal- 
lenged the  opposite  party  to  attempt  a  refutation  of  the 
position  now  occupied  by  him  and  his  colleague.  Mr.  T. 
and  his  assistant  did  their  best.  They  evinced  much 
ability  and  preparation  for  the  contest.  But  Mr.  Badger, 
in  particular,  was  upon  them  in  every  position  they  took 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  201 

and  every  seeming  fastness  to  which  they  fletl.  The  de- 
bate continued  from  ten  in  the  morning,  with  but  a  brief 
recess,  till  nearly  sunset ;  the  four  engaged  in  it  taking 
nearly  equal  parts.  When  about  to  close  for  the  day  Mr. 
Badger  proposed  that  if  the  opposite  party  desired  it,  the 
debate  could  be  continued  another  day.  Mr.  T.  declined, 
as  he  stated,  on  account  of  ill  health.  Thus  this  animated 
discussion  closed,  and  I  may  say  with  confidence,  it  left 
on  the  public  mind  a  favorable  influence  for  the  Chris- 
tians." 

In  a  New  England  paper,  he  says  — 

"  But  what  is  the  most  pleasant,  is  to  see  the  good  union 
that  exists,  and  the  steadfastness  that  appears.  There  are 
now  between  eighty  and  ninety  members  in  connection  with 
the  church,  and  as  yet  there  has  not  been  to  my  knowledge 
but  one  that  has  brought  any  reproach  on  the  cause.  Our 
assemblies  have  been  so  large  that  I  have  preached  in  a 
grove  the  greatest  part  of  the  summer  past,  but  we  have 
made  a  beginning  in  constructing  a  meeting-house,  and 
the  prospect  is  that  we  shall  soon  have  better  conveniences. 
In  West  Bloomtleld,  a  town  adjoining  this,  the  work  has 
been  very  glorious.  Elder  David  Millard,  who  had  been 
a  few  months  in  the  County,  last  June,  had  his  mind 
drawn  into  that  town,  and  as  the  way  opened  he  began  to 
preach  and  to  visit  the  people.  He  immediately  saw  the 
fruits  of  his  labors  —  was  soon  joined  by  Elder  E.  Sharp, 
of  Conn.,  who  had  formerly  preached  in  the  town.  The 
work  has  embraced  the  old  and  the  young,  and  has  been 
carried  on  in  a  remarkably  still  and  solemn  manner. 
Brother  Millard  has  had  several  debates  in  public  and 
private,  on  different  subjects  ;  and  as  the  public  mind  has 
been  much  agitated  concerning  his  opinion  of  Christ,  he 
9* 


202  MEMOIR    OP 

has  written  a  treatise  of  about  48  pages,  12mo,  which  is 
now  in  press,  entitled  '  The  True  Messiah  exalted,'  which 
I  think  will  be  calculated  to  do  good.  A  few  weeks  since 
a  church  has  been  planted  at  Bloomfield,  and  I  think  it 
consists  of   about  thirty  members.     Prospects  are   still 


He  now  had  an  able  coadjutor  in  the  field,  one  whose 
written  arguments  and  oral  discourses  have  long  been 
strong  barriers  to  the  advocates  of  the  old  Athanasian 
theology.  In  December,  Mr.  Badger  visited  Canan- 
daigua  and  preached  to  the  people  ;  the  most  of  the 
time  was  devoted  to  the  town  of  his  residence,  and  in 
supplying  the  wants  of  adjoining  places.  Speaking  of 
this  year  in  the  retrospect,  he  says :  "  One  year  more 
of  my  unprofitable  life  is  gone.  In  it  I  have  enjoyed 
myself  well,  seen  much  of  God's  goodness,  attended 
many  funerals,  solemnized  many  marriages,  and  at  its 
close  am  seriously  reminded  that 

"  '  The  year  rolls  round  and  steals  away 
The  breath  that  first  it  gave  ; 
"Whate'er  we  do,  where'er  we  be, 
We're  tending  to  the  grave.'  " 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  203 

CHAPTER    XI. 

THOUGHTS   AND    INCIDENTS    OF     1819   AND    1820. 

Mr.  Badger  is  now  in  the  twenty-seventh  year  of 
his  age  and  the  seventh  of  his  ministry,  and  occupies 
a  position  that  affords  him  more  leisure  for  reflection 
than  the  activities  of  his  itinerant  Hfe  had  yielded  him. 
Among  the  subjects  that  he  accepted  for  the  action  of 
his  own  thought  was  Universalism,  whose  pillars  and 
foundations  he  seemed  to  have  thoroughly  examined, 
as  set  forth  in  the  systems  of  that  day.  His  mind  was 
led  to  this  by  the  circumstance  that  his  father,  for 
whom  his  letters  and  journal  only  express  the  kindest 
fihal  feeling  and  reverence,  had,  after  much  study  and 
thought,  adopted  that  system  as  his  favorite  form  of 
religious  belief.  The  document  which  contains  his 
views  is  entitled  ''  An  affectionate  Address  of  a  Son 
to  his  Father."  AYe  offer  from  this  a  few  extracts,  in 
which  the  reader  can  see  the  candor,  cogency  and 
kindness  that  pervade  the  whole  address,  which  covers 
some  twenty-three  pages  of  letter-paper,  very  finely 
and  compactly  written.  This  is  the  opening  paragraph ; 

^'  Honored  and  De'ar  Father  :  —  With  pleasure  I 
once  more  take  my  pen  to  address  one  for  whom  I  have 
the  most  reverential  regard,  a  regard  greater  than  I 
cherish  for  any  person  on  earth ;  one  who  has  with  hope- 
ful anxiety  watched  over  the  days  of  my  childhood  and 
vanity,  and  wept  at  the  follies  of  my  youth.  My  former 
letters   have   given    you   the   state   of   my  affairs   and 


204  MEMOIR   OP 

prospects  in  this  pleasant  part  of  the  country  ;  also,  in  my 
several  letters,  I  have  noticed  the  extensive  spread  of  the 
Gospel,  the  increase  of  light,  and  the  effect  of  those  glo- 
rious reformations  I  have  been  allowed  to  witness,  the 
subjects  of  which  are  now  mj  choice  society ;  and  you 
cannot  imagine  the  unspeakable  joy  of  your  son,  while  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land,  to  learn  that  his  aged  fjither 
has  been  entertained  and  comforted  by  the  contents  of 
his  letters  on  those  subjects.  Permit  me,  my  dear  father, 
in  this  short  treatise,  to  make  a  few  remarks  on  the  doc- 
trine which  you  have  for  years  embraced  and  vindicated 
relative  to  the  salvation  of  all  men.  If  this  doctrine  is 
true,  it  is  a  pleasant  thing;  if  untrue,  it  is  dangerous  to 
rest  on  the  sand.  As  I  have  serious  objections  against 
the  system,  I  feel  it  a  duty  to  lay  them  before  you  for 
your  consideration,  wishing,  if  I  am  in  error,  to  be  con- 
vinced of  it ;  and  I  hope  that,  should  you  find  the  doc- 
trine you  have  esteemed  as  truth,  cries  '  peace  and  safety" 
to  those  whom  sudden  destruction  awaits,  you  will  be 
willing  to  exchange  it  for  that  truth  which  opens  to  the 
sinner  the  worst  of  his  case." 

After  this  kind  and  gentle  introduction,  Mr.  Badger 
proceeds  to  take  up  the  chief  arguments  which  his 
father  had,  in  other  years,  employed  for  the  support  of 
the  system,  —  arguments  from  general  reason  and  from 
Scripture.  He  then  attempts  to  show  the  origin  of 
the  system  in  human  causes,  and  its  disagreement  with 
the  plain  teachings  of  Revelation,  and  with  the  spirit 
and  genius  of  the  Christian  experience  and  life.  Such 
is  the  plan  of  his  treatise.  The  period  to  which  these 
arguments  belong,  was  one  in  which  there  was  a  strong 
controversial  clash  of  theories,  each  one  of  which  was 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  205 

undoubtedly  a  fragmentary  and  Imperfect  statement  of 
some  essential  truth  in  religion ;  and  as  Calvinistic 
reasoning  was  then  generally  in  the  ascendant,  as  its 
bold  premises  were  the  main  foundation  of  the  plea  of 
its  opposite  extreme,  —  the  Universalian  statement, — 
the  subject  seemed  to  take  a  fresh  interest  in  the 
hands  of  one  who  approached  it  from  an  intermediate 
region  of  thinking. 

"  One  of  your  favorite  and  powerful  arguments  in  favor 
of  this  doctrine  is,  that  in  the  beginning  the  soul  of  man 
was  a  part  of  God,  and  therefore  cannot  be  defiled,  con- 
demned or  punished,  as  Deity  will  not  sentence  a  part  of 
himself  to  misery.  All  the  Scripture  I  ever  heard  quoted 
in  favor  of  this  view,  is  that  '  God  breathed  into  man  the 
breath  of  life  and  he  became  a  living  soul,'  which  carries 
a  very  different  idea  from  the  one  you  derive  from  it.  It 
does  not  say  that  the  soul  is  a  part  of  God,  or  that  God 
breathed  into  man  a  part  of  himself.  It  means  just  this, 
that  God  breathed  into  man  the  breath  of  life,  and  that, 
as  a  result  of  this,  he  became  a  living,  active,  intelligent 
creature." 

"  Let  us  further  reason  on  this  subject.  Can  a  part  of 
God  be  ignorant  of  another  part  of  himself  ?  Yet  are  we 
not  ignorant  of  what  passes  in  the  breast  of  our  neigh- 
bor ?  Does  not  one  drop  of  a  fountain  possess  all  the 
qualities  of  the  fountain  from  which  it  was  taken  ?  But 
who  will  say  that  mortal  man  has  all  the  qualities  and 
qualifications  of  his  Maker,  God  ?  If  the  soul  is  a  part 
of  God,  where  lies  the  propriety  of  those  Scriptures 
wherein  he  threatens  to  punish  the  sinner  ?  Would  he 
threaten  to  banish  a  part  of  himself  from  himself  forever, 
or  say  to  a  part  of  himself,  '  Depart  from  me,  ye  workers 
of  iniquity  ? ' 


206  MEMOIR   OP 

"  The  supporters  of  this  theory,  arguing  on  the  old 
Calvinistic,  fatal  plan,  say  that  '  God  foreordains  whatso- 
ever comes  to  pass  ; '  —  a  popular  and  highly  esteemed 
idea,   from   which  I  must  dissent  for  the  following  rea- 


Mr.  B.  proceeds  to  urge  half  a  dozen  reasons  for 
rejecting  these  theological  premises,  alleging,  from  the 
authority  of  scripture  revelation,  that  many  things 
have  taken  place  which  the  Creator  has  disapproved 
of;  that  the  premise  assumed  puts  the  decrees  of  God 
and  his  commandments  into  exactly  hostile  relations  to 
each  other ;  that  it  destroys  the  justice  of  all  punish- 
ment whatever,  unless  it  is  just  to  punish  human  beings 
for  doing  the  highest  will  in  the  universe,  and  for  doing 
what  they  could  not  avoid. 

"If  all  creation,"  says  he,  "moves  in  exact  accordance 
with  the  divine  will,  I  cannot  find  anything  in  the  world 
that  is  sin.  Where  all  is  right,  there  can  be  no  wrong. 
Sin  then  is  rendered  virtue,  falsehood  is  truth,  darkness  is 
light,  Satan  is  man's  friend  and  helper  toward  the  *  new 
heavens '  and  the  eternal  bliss.  Is  it  not  strange  that 
God  should  give  laws  to  machines  ?  For  this  scheme 
completely  renders  men  such.  He  does  not  announce 
laws  to  the  trees  of  the  forest.  What  would  we  think  of 
the  goldsmith  who  should  appoint  a  day  in  which  morally 
to  judge  all  his  watches  according  to  their  works  ?  This 
doctrine  gives  as  much  honor  to  Satan  as  it  does  to 
Christ,  as  it  makes  him  as  active  as  he  is  in  the  salvation 
and  final  happiness  of  men.  It  certainly  makes  him  the 
brother  of  Christ,  for  Jesus  said,  *  He  that  doeth  the  will 
of  my  Father  which  is  in  Heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother  ; ' 
—  as  universal  foreordination  causes  the  devil  to  do  the 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  207 

will  of  God,  it  presents  him  as  the  brother  of  Jesus 
Christ.  If  the  two  ideas,  that  the  soul  is  a  part  of  God, 
and  that  God  has  foreordained  whatsoever  comes  to  pass, 
are  true,  then  Universalism  is  correct ;  if  they  are  not 
true,  the  system  must  fall,  for  these  are  the  main  pillars 
which  support  the  fabric,  and  in  my  opinion  they  are  as 
weak  in  their  nature  as  were  the  feet  of  the  king's  image 
in  the  prophet's  vision,  which  were  *  part  iron  and  part 
clay.' " 

Mr.  Badger  goes  on  to  speak  of  the  universal  good- 
ness of  God,  as  a  pledge  and  proof  that  the  divine 
laws  will  be  executed  ;  he  says,  that  the  goodness  of 
a  government,  the  goodness  of  a  governor  and  his 
subordinate  officers,  arc  the  proof  that  the  laws  will 
be  duly  enforced  —  that  the  criminal  will  find  no  refuge 
from  deserved  punishment. 

After  quoting  from  Moshcim  on  the  opinions  and 
reasoning  of  Origen,  the  celebrated  father  of  the  tliird 
century,  whom  he  regards  as  the  original  founder  of 
this  theory,  and  after  quoting  from  a  late  theological 
writer  a  statement  of  the  system  of  Dr.  Chauncey, 
and  the  Calvinistic  theory  of  Mr.  Murray,  he  asks 
which  of  these  systems  is  the  true  and  the  reliable 
one  ;  and  after  bringing  the  ideas  he  opposes  to  the 
subject  of  Christian  experience,  to  the  self-denial, 
inward  love  and  joy  produced  by  the  regenerative 
agency  of  the  Gospel,  he  pleads  its  incongeniality  with 
those  qualities  of  the  Christian  religion  which  cause 
repentance  and  reformation  of  life. 

Occasionally  I  have  heard  it  stated  that  Mr.  Badger's 
preaching  was  very  interesting  to  that  class  of  Chris- 
tians who  take  the  name  of  UniversaUsts,  that  they 


208  MEMOIR    OF 

generally  were  fond  of  hearing  him,  and  a  very  few 
unguarded  persons  have  said  that  he  was  substantially 
of  their  doctrine.  In  regard  to  the  first  part  of  the 
statement,  it  must  have  been  true  that  many  of  this 
class  were  pleased  and  interested  with  Ifis  preaching, 
for  how  could  they  be  otherwise  ?  It  is  to  his  credit 
that  they  were  pleased  with  him  as  a  man  and  as  a 
speaker.  Being  less  rigid  than  many  others  in  their 
dogmatical  restrictions  —  being  less  conservative  and 
prescriptive  than  most  other  sects,  and  having  investi- 
gating and  inquiring  minds,  they  would  often  be  pleased 
to  hear  so  natural  and  so  gifted  a  man  as  Mr.  Badger. 
Then  his  mode  of  preaching  was  never  founded  in 
terrific  appeal  —  was  never  noisy  or  boisterous  ;  the 
paternity  of  God,  the  fulness  of  the  love  ^of  Christ  to 
all  mankind,  the  simplicity  and  reasonableness  of 
religion,  were  topics  that  shone  with  peculiar  brightness. 
Men  often  judge  by  contrasts.  He  who  preaches 
humanely  and  from  the  fulness  of  a  brotherly  heart, 
when  it  is  customary  to  hear  the  thunders  of  Sinai 
rocking  the  pulpits  and  churches  of  the  land,  and 
especially  if  the  speaker  draws  the  chief  motive  from 
the  endearing  magnetism  of  heaven  rather  than  from 
the  repulsions  of  the  horrible  pit,  there  will  always  be 
some  to  claim  him  as  standing  upon  their  platform,  as 
belonging  to  the  theory  which  has  so  stoutly  and  heroi- 
cally fought  the  vindictive  theology  of  Calvin.  But  if 
the  truth  is  looked  for  or  abided  by,  it  will  stand  as  the 
most  unquestionable  certainty  that  Mr.  Badger  adopted 
none  of  the  theories  of  Universalism,  whatever  may  be 
their  merits  or  defects.  He  was  one  of  those  naturally 
balanced  men  who  could  see  the  fragmentary  excellence 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  209 

residing  in  religious  theories  or  in  human  reforms  with- 
out becoming  a  partisan.  Probably  there  is  no  one 
theological  subject  on  which  there  is  a  larger  amount 
of  manuscript  among  the  papers  of  Mr.  B.,  than  may 
be  found  on  the  subject  of  UniversaUsm,  and  the  whole 
of  it  may  be  appealed  to  in  evidence  that  as  a  theory 
he  always  regarded  it  as  human  and  erroneous.  Before 
me  lie  his  early  writings,  in  which  he  frankly  says,  "  I 
feel  myself  bound  before  my  Eternal  Judge  to  bear  my 
testimony  against  it ;  "  and  plots  of  some  controversial 
sermons,  laid  out  in  the  form  of  a  massive  strength,  and 
preached  in  the  later  years  of  his  ministry,  are  unequiv- 
ocal testifiers  to  the  same  fact.  These  remarks  are  not 
made  to  cast  reflections  on  any  sect,  for  our  philosophy 
and  observation  have  taught  us  to  revere  the  great 
rehgious  movements  of  the  past  century,  believing  that 
truth  has  been  helped  by  each  and  by  all  of  them. 
They  are  made  that  the  original,  to  whom  these  pages 
refer,  may  be  seen  as  he  was.  I  rejoice  that  so  many 
of  those  who  hold  the  hope  of  ihc  world's  salvation 
were  drawn  to  his  ministry,  and  that  among  his  friends 
throughout  the  country  were  those  of  different  schools 
of  thought,  of  different  denominations  ;  and  it  may  be 
truthfully  added,  a  large  number  of  persons  who  were 
not  in  the  habit  of  rendering  their  regards  to  sects  by 
membership,  nor  to  churches  by  a  regular  attendance. 
Many  of  this  latter  class,  both  of  the  intelligent  and 
the  very  illiterate,  would  catch  something  from  his 
manner  and  words  that  drcAV  them  about  him.  Sects 
are  so  much  dressed  in  uniform,  and  are  run  so  exactly 
in  fixed  castings,  that  a  man  whose  influences  go  out 
naturally  from  the  centre  of  an  individual  manhood  is 


210  MEMOIR    OF 

among  tlie  rarest  productions.  At  Naples,  m  the  State 
of  New  York,  a  lot  of  ignorant  shingle  makers,  for 
example,  some  of  whom  drank  and  none  of  whom  cared 
a  groat  for  a  church,  came  down  at  mid-day  from  the 
adjoining  hills  with  but  two  questions  in  their  mouth 
and  heart,  which  were  —  "  ^Y]lere  is  he  2  "  and  '^  Will  he 
preach  ?  "  nor  were  the  hundreds  of  like  instances  that 
multiplied  in  his  path  anything  less  than  the  highest 
'compliments,  the  surest  evidence  that  a  man  was  there 
and  that  his  word  was  a  help  to  all.  No  real  man  was 
ever  yet  on  all  sides  walled  by  a  sect ;  where  one 
appears,  men  generally  are  made  to  feel  that  the  bond 
which  unites  them  to  him  is  not  ecclesiastical  but  human. 
Man  and  his  brother  are  there.  Here  is  the  closing 
paragraph  of  the  argumentative  letter  frorii  which  quo- 
tations have  already  been  made  :  — 

"  For  seven  long  years  I  have  been  deprived  of  the 
joys  of  a  father's  house  on  account  of  my  obedience  to 
the  great  commission,  '  Go  ye  into  the  world  and  preach 
the  Gospel  to  every  creature  ; '  yet  in  distant  lands  I  have 
met  many  dear  friends,  and  found  many  dear  homes. 
But  I  have  not  lost  my  regard  for  my  relatives,  and  the 
silent  groves  are  witness  to  my  tears  that  my  father's 
family  may  all  share  in  the  grace  of  Christ.  Oh,  what 
comfort  it  gives  me  to  learn  that  some  of  the  family  have 
in  their  expcriance  known  the  light,  joy,  and  peace  of  re- 
ligion since  I  saw  them.  Though  we  connect  with 
different  sects  of  Christians,  though  our  views  may  be 
vastly  different,  yet  if  we  have  real  virtue,  if  we  '  fear 
God  and  work  righteousness,'  we  shall  be  accepted  of  him. 
It  is  with  the  greatest  tenderness  that  I  have  penned  these 

arguments  against  your  theory,  and  it  is  with  solemnity 

1? 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  211 

that  I  look  forward  to  a  coming  judgment  -where  we  shall 
soon  meet.  Should  you  still  think  your  system  true, 
remember  that  we  should  have  something  more  than  a 
belief  in  any  doctrine, —  something  more  than  a  profession 
of  religion  to  qualify  us  to  meet  our  God  in  peace.  May 
he  crown  your  hopes  with  eternal  joy.  May  your  grey 
hairs,  when  lie  shall  call,  come  down  unto  the  grave  in 
peace.  With  your  ancestors  and  children  may  you  praise 
the  Lord  God  and  the  Lamb  forever.  IMy  best  regards 
to  my  dear  mother.  Ten  thousand  blessings  crown  the 
evening  of  her  life,  and  may  her  sun  set  without  a  cloud. 
My  love  to  my  brothers  and  sisters,  who  to  my  heart  are 
still  dear.  INlay  they  live  as  children  of  the  light. 
Though  hundreds  of  miles  shall  separate  us  —  though 
hills  and  valleys,  lakes  and  rivers  between  us  lie,  we  can 
pray  to  the  same  God,  cherish  the  same  spirit,  walk 
according  to  the  same  rule,  and,  ere  long,  meet  in  the 
same  eternal  mansion  of  repose,  where  sorrows,  pains, 
and  labors  shall  end,  where  tears  shall  be  wiped  away 
from  all  faces." 

Among  the  permanent  moral  lights  of  New  England 
at  this  time,  Rev.  Noah  Worcester,  of  Brighton,  Mass., 
shone  with  no  ordinary  lustre.  His  thoughts  on  several 
moral  and  theological  subjects,  embodied  in  tracts, 
books,  and  in  periodical  form,  "were  known  throughout 
the  country.'  His  opinions,  though  held  as  unsound  by 
many,  were  commended  to  the  reader  by  the  candor, 
piety,  learning  and  admirable  character  he  possessed. 
Mr.  Badger  soon  saw  the  value  of  his  mind  as  a  theo- 
logical writer,  instituted  some  friendly  correspondence, 
and  availed  himself  of  a  new  element  of  power  by 
throwing  into  wider  circulation  some  of  his  argumenta- 


212  MEMOIR    OF 

tive  writings  ;  he  also  gained  permission  of  Mr.  Wor- 
cester to  republisli  some  of  his  works.  His  "  Appeal 
to  the  Candid,"  and  his  ^'  Bible  News,"  were  distinctly 
spoken  of  by  Mr.  B.,  as  works  deserving  to  be  placed 
in  every  library,  and  of  being  read  at  every  fireside. 
But  the  well  of  Christian  life  in  Mr.  Worcester  was 
too  full  and  deep  to  be  exhausted  on  theological 
themes.  Under  date  of  April  30,  1819,  he  says  to 
Mr.  Badger: 

"  For  several  years  I  have  devoted  my  time  principally 
to  the  object  of  abolishing  the  anti-Christian  custom  of 
war.  In  this  business  I  expect  to  spend  the  remainder  of 
my  days.  I  very  much  desire  that  the  ministers  of  your 
denomination  should  get  hold  of  this  subject.  A  little 
attention  will  convince  them  that  the  errors  which  support 
war  are  the  most  fatal  of  any  which  ever  afflicted  or  dis- 
graced mankind,  and  that  to  be  consistant  'Christians^ 
they  must  renounce  all  participation  in  the  dreadful  work 
of  revenge  and  murder.  The  state  of  my  health  requires 
brevity.  The  peace  tracts  which  I  send  you  are  gratis, 
except  that  I  request  you  to  exmine  them  impartially.  I 
should  be  happy  to  see  you.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  some 
acquaintance  with  your  uncle,  Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  of  Gilman- 
ton,  N.  H.,  also  with  your  noble  grandsire,  Gen.  Badger. 
"  Affectionately  yours, 

"  N.  Worcester." 

Other  letters  indicate  the  deep  interest  taken  by  Mr. 
B.  in  the  productions  of  this  author,  and  often  in  later 
years  did  he  recommend  them  to  the  careful  study  of 
'every  young  minister.  More  than  this,  he  often 
bestowed  them  as  gifts  upon  those  who  were  engaging 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry. 


REV.  JOSEPH    BADGER.  213 

Among  tlie  theological  papers  of  Mr.  B.,  written 
about  this  time,  is  one  on  the  character  of  God,  which 
furnishes  an  example  of  his  concise  and  successful 
method  of  getting  at  the  truth  of  an  important  subject 
when  he  became  fuUj  interested  in  it.  He  commences 
thus : — 

"  Oh  with  what  reverence  ongth  we  to  make  mention 
of  the  exalted  name  of  our  Creator,  and  speak  of  his 
lovely  character !  Almost  all  sects  acknowledge  there  is 
one  God,  though  their  opinions  of  his  character  may 
widely  diflfer,  owing  to  their  present  imperfection  and  the 
darkness  of  their  minds.  Truly  our  best  discoveries  are 
but  imperfect,  and,  as  the  Apostle  says,  *  We  see  in 
part.'" 

He  then  proceeds  to  state  the  modes  by  which  the 
Deity  is  known,  and  offers  remarks  on  his  undivided 
supremacy. 

"There  are,"  says  he,  "three  ways  by  which  men 
receive  the  knowledge  of  God.  1.  In  the  works  of 
creation.  2.  By  the  revelation  of  the  Ploly  Spirit.  3. 
By  the  Holy  Scriptures,  which  is  a  record  God  gave  of 
his  Son." 

"  In  these  remarks  I  would  show  that  the  Eternal  God 
is  alone  supreme,  and  that  he  is  the  Father  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  The  first  name  given  to  the  Creator  in  the 
Scriptures  is  God,  Gen.  1  :  1,  which,  in  a  peculiar 
manner,  is  expressive  of  his  power  and  greatness,  and 
is  applied  to  him  in  a  very  different  manner  from  what  it 
is  when  bestowed  on  any  other  beings.  Yet  it  is  an 
ambiguous  word,  and  in  the  Scripture  is  applied  to  seven 
different  characters  which  are,  1.  The   Eternal  God. — 


214  MEMOIR    OF 

Phil  1  :  '2.  •:.  To  Jesus  Christ  in  propho.>y.—  Isa.  9  :  G. 
*For  unto  us  a  child  is  born,  a  son  is  given;  and  the 
government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder,  and  his  name 
shall  be  ealled  Wonderful.  Counsellor,  the  Mighty  God, 
he  Everlasting  Father,  the  Prince  of  Peace.*  o.  To 
angels. —  Ps.  D7  :  7  ;  Ileb.  1 :  G.  '  Worship  Him,  all  ye 
gods.'  *Let  all  the  angels  of  God  worship  him.'  -1. 
To  Moses. —  Ex.  7:  1.  'And  the  Lord  God  said  unto 
Moses,  See.  I  have  made  thee  a  god  to  Pharaoh.'  5.  To 
the  Hebrew  Rulers  or  Judges. —  Ex.  22:  28;  Ps.  82  :  1. 
6.  To  Pagan  idols.— Isa.  41:  10.  7.  To  Satan.  'In 
whom  the  God  of  this  world  hath  blinded  their  eyes.' 
From  these  passages  it  is  evident  that  the  woni  God  of 
itself  cannot  teach  the  self-exisiont  Divinity  of  that  to 
which  it  is  given." 

"  God  has  no  ev]ual.  I  will  show  thai  ho  is  greater  than 
all  others.     He  is  so, 

"  1.  In  names.  2.  In  works,  o.  In  power.  4.  In 
knowledge. 

"  1.  In  names.  The  word  Jehovah  is  employed  four 
times  in  the  Scriptures,  and  in  its  simple,  uncomponnded 
form,  is  alone  applied  to  the  Supreme  God.  Ex.  G  :  3. 
—  'And  I  appeared  unto  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  hj 
the  name  of  God  Almighty  ;  but  by  my  name  Jeiiovah 
I  was  not  known  unto  them.'  Ps.  83:  18. — 'That  men 
may  know  that  thou,  whose  name  alone  is  Jehovah,  art  the 
Most  High  over  all  the  earth.'  Isa.  12:2. — '  For  the 
Lord  Jehovah  is  my  strength  and  my  song.'  Isa.  2G  :  4. — 
*  In  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  everlasting  strength.'  This  word, 
it  would  seem,  denotes  the  eternal  self-existence  of  God. 
It  was  among  the  Hebrews  their  most  sacred  title  for  the 
Creator,  so  sacred  in  their  regard  that  they  did  not,  on 
common  occasions,  pronounce  it  in  reading,  or  in  worship, 
but  after  a  significant  pause  of  reverential  silence,  they 


EEV.    JOSKI'II    BADGER.  215 

substituted  for  it  the  word  Adonai.  Here  is  a  sublime 
title,  having  no  double  meaning,  and  is  applicable  to  no 
one  but  to  the  self-existent  God. 

"  2.  *  Eternal  God,'  is  a  title  given  to  the  Father,  and 
to  none  else.  Deut.  33  :  27. — '  The  Eternal  God  is  thy 
refuge.* 

"3.  The  words  'invisible  God'  are  equally  exclusive 
in  their  use.  Col.  1 :  15. — 'Who  is  the  image  of  the  in- 
visible God,  the  first-born  of  every  creature.*  4,  He  is 
called  the  Highest.  Luke  1 :  32,  35.  If  the  Deity  is 
composed  of  three  persons  who  are  perfectly  equal,  it 
would  be  very  improper  to  attach  the  name  Highest  to 
either  of  them,  as  it  would  disturb  the  equality  of  the 
three.  Was  not  the  Angel  Gabriel  probably  ignorant  of 
these  distinctions  when  he  made  the  announcement  to  the 
Virgin  Mary?  5.  He  is  styled  the  '  Most  High.' — Ps. 
107  :  11  ;  Ps.  14  :  14  ;  Acts  7  :  48  ;  Heb.  8:1.  C.  '  God 
of  gods,'  is  another  titleg  iven  to  none  but  the  Father. — 
Deut.  10  :  17.  '  For  the  Lord  your  God  is  God  of  gods.' 
7.  The  Father  is  called  the  '  only  wise  God.'  Jude  25. 
— '  To  the  only  wise  God  our  Saviour  be  glory  and  maj- 
esty, dominion  and  power,  both  now  and  forever.  Amen.* 
1  Tim.  1 :  17. — '  Now  unto  the  King  eternal,  immortal, 
invisible,  the  only  wise  God,  be  honor  and  glory  forever 
and  forever.'  8.  He  is  styled  the  blessed  and  only 
Potentate.  1  Tim.  G:  15. — 'Which  in  his  times  (in  the 
days  of  his  flesh)  he  shall  show  who  is  the  blessed  and 
only  Potentate,  (the  Father)  the  King  of  kings  and 
Lord  of  lords.'  These  eight  titles,  which  are  alone  given 
to  the  Father,  do,  as  I  consider,  most  perfectly  demonstrate 
this  part  of  my  subject,  and  in  part  it  illustrates  what 
Jesus  said  in  John  10  :  20.  '  My  Father  which  gave 
them  me  is  greater  than  alV  " 


216  MEMOIR    OF 

These  indeed  are  strong  Scripture  positions,  com- 
prehensively stated,  well  fortified,  and  clearly  expressed. 

In  some  of  his  pubhshed  writings  of  this  year,  we 
find  him  looking  into  the  subject  of  church  polity,  and 
endeavoring  to  answer  the  question,  "  Where  is  the 
poiver  of  government  ?^^  He  noticed  four  different 
systems  for  answering  this  question,  systems  which  have 
had  their  favorites,  from  all  of  which,  he  adds,  "  I  am 
led  to  dissent  in  certain  respects."  These  are  :  1.  The 
idea  of  submitting  the  power  of  government  to  the  civil 
authority,  as  in  the  Church  of  England,  as  in  state 
religion  generally.  He  affirms  that  good  government 
docs  its  office  when  it  defends  our  rights  and  protects 
our  persons ;  that  it  never  should  attempt  to  enforce 
the  laws  of  the  church,  or  dictate  in  any  way  to  the 
conscience.  2.  The  idea  of  a  central  man,  or  of  a  few 
chosen  men,  in  whom  the  authority  shall  be  vested. 
"  The  New  Dispensation,"  said  he,  "  establishes  a  kingly 
government ;  yet,  as  the  government  is  on  the  Mes- 
siah's shoulder,  I  cannot  consent  that  the  power  should 
be  given  to  any  other."  He  is  the  legislative  centre. 
"  A  Diotrephes  was  rebuked  for  loving  the  preemi- 
nence." 3.  The  idea  that  in  a  council  of  ministers, 
exclusive  of  churches,  the  controlling  power  concen- 
trates. 4.  That  in  the  churches,  independent  of  the 
ministers,  all  power  resides.  In  neither  of  these  sys- 
tems does  Mr.  Badger  coijfide.  He  confides  in  the 
union  of  ministers  and  churches,  in  their  assembled 
light.  He  refers  to  the  consultation  at  Jerusalem  as 
combining  several  elements :  "  apostles,  elders  and 
brethren,"  all  being  interested  and  active  on  the  sub- 
jects agitated.     The   general  state,  of  the   Christian 


KEY.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  217 

Churcli  called  for  something  which  the  local  action  of 
no  one  society  could  give,  and  hence  there  was  a 
general  assemblage  drawn  together  at  Jerusalem  by  the 
magnitude  of  the  questions  to  be  discussed ;  and  even 
their  decisions  were  not  sent  out  as  laws.  "  We,  in 
submitting  to  the  laws  of  Christ,  have  a  government 
among  us,  and  each  is  to  be  esteemed  for  his  work's 
sake.  Not  considering  churches  and  ministers  as  two 
parties,  but  as  one,"  says  Mr.  B.,  "we  find  them 
authorized  with  the  power  of  government,  but  not  to 
maJce  laws."  Referring  to  the  council  at  Jerusalem, 
he  remarks  that  "  it  is  a  beautiful  example  for  modern 
Christians,  one  that  fulfils  the  saying  of  the  wise  man, 
*In  the  multitude  of  counsellors  there  is  safety.* 
Where  no  counsel  is,  the  people  go  astray."  In  this 
brief  article,  published  in  1819,  is  expressed  the  main 
view  to  which  he  always  adhered  in  his  ideas  on  church 
government ;  a  view  more  widely  expanded  and  quali- 
fied in  a  series  of  articles  published  in  the  "  Christian 
Palladium,"  in  1837.  He  goes  against  the  spirit  of 
isolation  and  individuahsm,  and  contends  for  the  united 
concentration  of  all  the  light  of  the  church  —  for  the 
active  union  of  the  ministers  and  people.  Hence  he 
was  neither  Episcopal,  nor  a  radical  Congregationalist, 
who  boasts  a  church  government  independent  of  the 
ministry. 

In  the  town  of  Brutus,  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  Octo- 
ber 2,  at  a  meeting  where  several  clergymen  and  a 
large  assembly  were  convened,  Mr.  Badger  preached  a 
sermon  from  Habbakuk  3  :  3,  4  :  "  His  glory  covered 
the  heavens,  and  the  earth  was  full  of  his  praise,  and 
his  brightness  was  as  the  light ',  he  had  horns  coming 
10 


218  MEMOIR    OF 

out  of  his  hand,  and  there  T\'as  the  hiding  of  his 
power,"  —  a  sermon  that  gave  much  good  instruction, 
and  made  a  strong  impression  on  the  people,  if  we  may 
rely  on  the  candid  report  of  the  meeting  made  bj  the 
most  faithful  of  men,  Mr.  Elijah  Shaw,  then  the  minis- 
ter of  that  town ;  it  was  a  suhhme  text,  and  was  dis- 
cussed and  illustrated  in  a  manner  worthy  of  its  exalted 
sentiments.*  Also,  in  the  town  of  Clarence,  Niagara 
County,  N.  Y.,  September  26,  at  the  ordination  of  Rev. 
Allen  Crocker,  he  preached  an  effective  discourse  from 
the  Apostolical  Commission,  Mark  IG :  15,  in  which 
Christ,  and  his  authority  to  command,  the  qualifications 
of  his  ambassadors,  the  commission  given,  the  Gospel 
to  be  preached,  the  various  characters  to  whom  it  is  to 
be  addressed,  the  effect  produced,  and  the  sacrifices, 
aflflictions  and  reward  of  the  faithful  minister,  were 
plainly  and  interestingly  set  forth. f 

At  this  time  Mr.  Badger  held  a  pastoral  relation  with 
three  churches  ;  one  at  Henrietta,  one  at  Lima,  and  one 
at  Mendon  ;  and  in  the  midst  of  the  many  duties  and 
cares  that  surrounded  him,  he  found  time  to  write  occa- 
sionally for  two  religious  publications,  one  called  the 
"  Christian  Herald,"  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  the  other 
"  The  Religious  Informer,"  published  at  New  Andover, 
in  the  same  State.  To  this  last  mentioned  periodical 
we  have  no  access,  and  therefore  can  select  nothing 
froni  his  communications  to  that  work. 

In  January,  1820,  a  religious  convention  was  held  at 
Covington,  Genesee  County,  N.  Y.,  composed  of  the 
Freewill  Baptist  and  the  Christian  denominations,  the 

♦   ♦  Christian  Herald,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  Vol.  II,  p.  61. 
t  Christian  Herald,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  Vol.  II,  p.  63. 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  219 

o'iyect  of  whose  deliberations  was  to  form  a  more  social 
acquaintance  with  each  other,  to  labor  for  a  greater 
union,  to  strive  together  for  the  "  faith  once  delivered 
to  the  saints,"  and  to  make  all  possible  advancement 
towards  that  perfection  in  which  the  watchmen  arc  to 
see  "  eje  to  eje."  Mr.  Badger  was  the  clerk  of  thia 
convention,  a  principal  speaker  in  its  discussions,  and 
probably  was  one  of  the  originators  of  the  meeting. 

We  learn  that  the  usages  and  views  of  both  denomi- 
nations were  plainly  set  forth,  Rev.  Nathaniel  Brown 
being  appointed  to  represent  the  general  order  and 
practice  of  the  Freewill  Baptists,  and  Rev.  D.  Millard 
to  do  the  same  in  behalf  of  the  Christian  denomination. 
A  general  and  friendly  discussion,  abounding  in  queries 
and  answers,  folloAved,  and  after  much  deliberation  it 
was  found  that  the  main  difference  between  the  two 
denominations  was  this,  that  "  the  Baptists  do  not  re- 
ceive any  as  church  members  who  have  not  been  bap- 
tized by  immersion^  though  they  extend  fellowship  and 
communion  to  all  who  live  in  newness  of  life  ;  and  the 
Christians  receive  all  as  church  members  who  give 
evidence  that  they  have  passed  from  death  unto  life, 
and  who  live  in  newness  of  life."  They  conversed  on 
many  points  of  doctrine,  found  no  particular  difference 
except  on  the  character  of  God  and  of  Christ,  which 
they  considered  to  be  no  bar  to  their  union  and  fellow- 
ship. "  We  think  it  duty,"  said  they,  "  to  discard  all 
doctrine  which  has  an  immoral  effect  in  society,  and  to 
receive  and  approbate  all  who  come  in  the  fulness  of 
the  blessing  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ."  They  agreed 
to  exchange,  to  labor  together  in  harmony,  and  to 
acknowledge  themselves  "  the  Church  of  God,"  to  the 


220 


MEMOIR    OF 


exclusion  of  all  party  names.  In  New  England  I  judge 
the  difference  was  more  marked,  as  some  of  Mr.  B.'s 
correspondents  in  the  East  complained  that  their  ideas 
of  catholic  brotherhood  had  been  rejected  bj  them. 

His  indeed  was  a  mingled  cup,  into  which  sorrow 
at  times  copiously  flowed.  In  a  letter  to  his  brother 
Nathaniel,  dated  Mendon,  March  25,  1820,  we  read 
the  following : — 

"My  home  is  now  in  Mendon,  where  I  have  a  neatly 
built  house  surrounded  by  only  three  acres  I  call  my  own ; 
yet  it  is  pleasant  and  convenient,  it  being  only  half  a 
mile  from  the  meeting-bouse  now  going  up.  I  have  the 
care  of  three  churches.  But  at  this  time  I  am  surround- 
ed with  great  afflictions.  For  more  than  one  year  has 
my  dear  Mary  Jane  lain  sick,  and  now  she  is  in  the  last 
stage  of  consumption.  She  can  remain  but  a  few  days 
longer.  I  rejoice  that  she  is  so  calmly  resigned  and  so 
well  prepared  to  go  into  the  world  of  spirits.  How  sweet 
is  the  presence  of  religion  in  these  soul-trying  scenes ! 
We  had  a  beautiful  little  son  taken  from  us  the  30th  of 
January  last,  named  for  our  two  fathers  *  Anthony  Peaslee.' 
Thus  with  our  blessings  are  afflictions  mingled,  and  our 
cup  is  one  of  mixture." 


Si  a  letter  to  Mr.  Moulton  he  says 


"  Though  my  situation  is  very  local  in  a  land  distant 
from  you,  and  from  my  friends  in  the  Province,  my  mind 
often  surveys  the  north  country,  where  I  have  travelled, 
preached,  suffered  and  enjoyed  so  much  of  God's  holy 
presence ; 'and  a  hope  still  exists  that  I  may  again  visit 
the  pleasant  cottages  that  have  once  sheltered  me  from 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  221 

the  chilling  blasts  of  winter.  Since  I  came  into  this 
country  with  you  it  has  ever  seemed  like  home,  and  I 
still  feel  bound  in  spirit  to  abide.  I  find  it  is  a  small 
thing  to  take  the  ground,  and  a  greater  to  keep  and  culti- 
vate it.  But  with  my  joys  I  have  sorrows.  January 
30th,  a  pleasant  son  was  taken  from  us,  and  a  council  of 
six  physicians  decided  as  early  as  last  July  that  Mary 
Jane  cannot  recover  from  the  consumption  by  which  she 
is  wasting  away.  She  enjoys  much  of  God's  presence, 
is  resigned  and  patient ;  but  this  is  a  scene  of  sorrow  in 
which  nothing  can  give  comfort  but  the  grace  of  God. 
The  cause  of  religion  still  flourishes  in  this  country. 
There  is  a  general  steadfastness  and  a  good  union  among 
the  churches.  Our  congregations  are  numerous.  Hun- 
dreds flock  together  to  hear  the  word  of  life  and  the 
Macedonian  cry  is  heard  from  every  quarter,  *  Come  over 
and  help  us.' 

*"  Oh,  Jesus,  let  thy  beauties  be 
My  soul's  eternal  food  ; 
And  grace  command  my  heart  away 
From  all  created  good.'" 

In  anxious  watching  at  the  bedside  of  sickness,  and 
in  pastoral  labors,  the  days  passed  away,  till  the  4th 
of  April,  1820,  when  the  calm  light  of  the  morning 
shone  on  the  departing  spirit  of  the  one  who  had  deeply 
sympathized  with  him  in  all  his  interests.  On  the 
6th  her  funeral  was  attended  by  a  large  and  solemn 
concourse,  to  whom  a  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev. 
D.  Millard,  of  West  Bloomfield,  from  Phil.  1  :  21 :  — 
"  To  die  is  gain  ;  "  from  his  pen  we  will  select  a  few 
obituary  lines. 

"  Mrs.  Mary  Jane  Badger  was  born  in  Farmington,  N. 
H.,  February  26th,  1798,  of  respectable  parentage.     She 


222  MEMOIR    OF 

was  the  third  daughter  of  the  late  Col.  Anthony  Peavy, 
of  that  town.  At  the  age  of  thirteen,  she  made  a  pro- 
fession of  religion  among  a  people  known  by  the  name  of 
Christians.  Her  pious  walk  and  modest  deportment 
while  but  a  youtb,  entitled  her  to  the  highest  esteem  of  all 
who  knew  her.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  she  became 
united  in  marriage  with  Elder  Joseph  Badger,  by  which 
she  became  separated  from  her  dearest  parents,  never  to 
see  them  again  on  earth.  Her  constitution  was  naturally 
delicate,  although  for  two  years  while  she  resided  in  this 
country  she  enjoyed  a  comfortable  state  of  health.  She 
conversed  freely  with  her  husband  on  death,  and  gave 
him  some  directions  about  her  two  little  children.  Pre- 
vious to  this  time  she  manifested  great  anxiety  concerning 
them,  but  from  this  moment  appeared  willing  to  give 
them  up,  and  seemed  to  lose  that  fearful  concern  for  them 
with  which  she  had  hitherto  been  exercised.  But  God 
had  otherwise  declared  for  the  youngest  child.  She  wept 
at  the  afilicting  scene,  but  endured  it  with  much  fortitude 
and  resignation.  She  said  to  her  husband,  at  the  close  of 
a  prayer  when  several  of  her  Christian  friends  were 
present,  '  I  rejoice  there  is  such  a  scene  as  death  for 
mortals  to  pass  through ;  it  is  the  gate  of  endless  joy.* 
Enriched  with  early  religious  experience,  she  took  delight 
in  the  singing  of  certain  devotional  hymns,  such  as  '  My 
God,  the  spring  of  all  my  joys,'  and  '  0  Jesus,  my  Saviour, 
to  thee  I  submit;' — and  her  last  words  were,  'I  feel 
composed,  I  can  put  my  trust  in  God.'  *  She  was,'  says 
Mr.  Millard,  'a  striking  example  of  female  neatness  and 
industry ;  very  exemplary  in  dress  and  manners,  and 
particularly  chaste  and  reserved  in  her  conversation. 
Though  she  is  now  no  more,  yet  her  memory  will  long 
live  in  the  hearts  of  the  virtuous.' " 


REV.   JOSErn    BADGER.  223 

A  tombstone  now  appears  in  the  burial-ground  near 
the  village  of  Honeoye  Falls,  bearing  the  character- 
istic taste  and  expressive  simplicity  of  Mr.  Badger's 
genius,  on  which  is  inscribed  these  words  : 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Mary  Jane,  wife  of 
Joseph  Badger,  who,  in  memory  of  her  virtue, 
has  erected  this  monument.  slie  died  a  chris- 
TIAN, April  4,  1820,  aged  22  ys.  1  m.  9  d. 

'*  Her  race  was  swift, 
Her  rest  is  sweet, 
Her  views  divine, 
Her  bliss  complete." 

It  is  with  entire  calmness  Mr.  Badger  surveys  the 
clouded  skies  that  shut  down  upon  his  loneliness  ;  a 
calmness  that  never  ostensibly  forsook  him  whenever 
great  grief  was  at  the  door,  lie  had  a  heart  of  great 
affections  and  of  fine  feelings.  His  strong  nature  was 
also  extremely  sensitive.  Few  could  suffer  so  much, 
and  few  would  weep  so  little  when  a  great  sorrow 
entered  his  dwelling.  He  is  again  alone  in  the  world  ; 
his  little  daughter,  Lydia  Elizabeth,  was  all  that  re- 
mained of  his  family,  the  only  tie  that  would  seem  to 
bind  him  to  earth,  and  one  indeed  in  whom  his  affec- 
tions strongly  centered.  Letters  of  sympathy  from 
numerous  sources  came  in  from  different  parts  of  the 
country.  But  sorrow,  though  it  might  soften  and 
enrich,  could  never  subdue  the  energies  of  his  manly 
spirit ;  and  in  the  ministry  of  the  holy  Cross  he  applied 
his  force  with  a  renewed  consecration  of  every  ability. 

Though  a  resident  of  one  place,  it  was  not  his  nature 
to  be  a  local  man.     His  sympathies  went  abroad,  his 


224  MEMOIR   OP 

eye  caught  the  signs  of  real  and  of  possible  success 
over  a  large  area,  and  the  public,  far  and  near,  re- 
sponded ^'ith  a  feeling  of  interest  equally  general. 
At  ordinations,  and  consecrations  of  "  temples  made 
with  hands,"  he  was  ever  a  favorite  with  the  people ; 
and  very  frequently  he  journeyed  large  distances  to 
attend  to  calls  of  this  nature.  His  family  now  being 
broken  up,  after  securing  the  pastoral  labors  of  Rev. 
Oliver  True,  he  resumes  the  work  of  a  missionary. 

There  are  indeed  two  classes  of  successful  ministers, 
though  they  succeed  in  different  ways.  I  refer  to  the 
class  who  have  simply  great  power  in  preaching,  who 
can  be  instrumental  in  the  conversion  of  great  num- 
bers ;  who,  when  they  have  reached  the  moral  depths 
of  the  sinful  heart,  and  filled  it  with  the  new  and 
heavenly  light,  have  ended  their  mission.  They  leave 
no  nucleus  about  which  the  new  strength  may  organize 
itself.  If  such  ministers  belong  to  a  denomination 
well  organized,  and  if  they  labor  in  the  spirit  of  such 
denomination,  the  results  of  their  efforts  will  very  likely 
be  absorbed  in  the  body  which  already  contains  the 
speakers.  These  can  create  material,  but  they  have  no 
constructive  power  to  permanently  unite  it.  There  is 
another  class,  who  seem  to  be  natural  husbandmen  of 
the  grounds  they  sow  ;  they  build,  they  gather,  they 
bring  everything  into  order  and  system,  they  fence 
and  harvest  the  ripened  fields.  These  last  men  are 
seldom  if  ever  idealists  ;  they  see  the  world  as  it  is, 
are  men  of  order  and  of  accumulative  tendency.  Per- 
haps George  Whitfield  and  John  Wesley  may  be  taken 
as  just  examples  of  these  two  kinds  of  ministers.  Mr. 
Badger  was  certainly  a  constructive,  and  also  was  he 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  225 

a  gifted  creator  of  material.  lie  'was,  in  one,  both 
these  orders  of  ministerial  power  ;  perhaps  we  should 
say  that  if  either  predominated  it  was  that  of  con- 
serving the  wealth  which  his  creativeness  and  the 
creativeness  of  others  might  produce.  Whitfield  was 
the  powerful,  the  eloquent  preacher,  under  whose 
word  converts  were  multiplied  "  as  dews  of  the 
morning  ;  "  but  under  his  peculiar  genius  Methodism 
had  never  become  an  organic  sj^stem,  to  last  its  cen- 
turies. Wesley,  though  not  a  great  man  in  thought 
or  language,  was  the  master  builder  without  whom  the 
labor  of  men  like  Whitfield  had  been,  as  it  were, 
"  scattered  unto  strangers."  He  gave  to  his  cause 
the  character  of  a  permanent  institution.  Mr.  Badger 
was  no  disorganizer.  He  beUeved  in  organization,  in 
system,  though  he  sought  to  organize  with  simplicity 
and  on  large  and  catholic  principles  of  Christian 
brotherhood. 

At  Milo,  N.  Y.,  at  a  general  meeting  which,  on 
Sunday,  September  3,  1820,  was  held  in  one  of  the 
pleasant  groves  of  that  rural  town,  Mr.  Badger  preached 
the  ordination  sermon  of  Benjamin  Farley,  James 
Potter  and  Stephen  Lamphere,  from  Rom.  10:  14; 
"  How  shall  they  hear  without  a  preacher  ?  "  The 
week  following  he  spent  chiefly  at  and  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  village  of  Aurora,  where  he  preached  several 
sermons  and  administered  baptism  to  a  few  believers. 
He  then  returned  by  way  of  Auburn,  preached  twice 
to  large  assemblies  in  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Brutus,  visited  his  devoted  friend  Dr.  Beman,  and  in 
the  evening  spoke  to  the  assembled  citizens  of  El 
bridge.  On  the  mornmg  of  the  11th  he  called  at  the 
10* 


226  MEMOIR   OP 

bedside  of  Dr.  Ayers,  jiho  was  in  the  last  stage  of 
consumption.  "  After  much  conversation,"  says  Mr, 
B.,  "  I  asked  him  if  he  desired  us  to  attend  prayers. 
He  paused  and  said,  '  Can  you  pray  ? '  (What  an 
important  question  !)  I  answered  in  the  affirmative. 
Said  he,  ^  Does  God  hear  you  and  give  you  answers  ?  ' 
I  told  him  '  Yes.'  He  then  burst  into  tears  and  said, 
*  Once  he  heard  me,  but  does  not  of  late.'  Every 
heart  present  was  moved.  He  was  a  man  beloved. 
He  bowed  with  us  in  prayer.  At  nine  o'clock  we  left 
him  and  proceeded  to  Camillus,  where  I  baptized  the 
wife  of  Esquire  Benedict  and  Mrs.  McMaster,  his 
daugliter.  At  evening  I  spoke  to  a  multitude  of 
weeping  auditors.  On  my  return,  agreeable  to  prom- 
ise, I  called  on  Dr.  A.,  who- again  knelt  with  me  at 
the  altar  of  mercy,  and  when  I  gave  him  my  parting 
hand  he  said,  '  I  shall  meet  you  in  heaven.'  His 
countenance  was  as  serene  as  a  morning  without 
clouds." 

At  Charleston,  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the 
IGtIi  and  17th  of  September,  he  attended  a  general 
meeting,  at  which  between  one  and  two  thousand 
people  were  present.  He  speaks  of  the  Conference 
business  that  was  done  on  the  18th  and  19th  as  very 
important ;  but  most  of  all  was  he  interested  in  the 
public  improvement  of  three  female  speakers,  who 
occupied  the  time  on  Monday  evening,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Hedges,  Mrs.  Abigail  Roberts,  and  Miss  Ann  Rexford, 
each  of  whom  was  more  than  commonljif  gifted  in  pub- 
lic speaking,  and  proved  the  fitness  of  their  mission 
by  indisputable  success  in  their  respective  spheres  of 
labor.     Miss  Rexford,  then  but  nineteen  years  of  age, 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  227 

a  young  woman  of  polished  manners  and  accomplislied 
mind,  had  a  clear  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  a 
winning  voice,  a  fine  command  of  language,  and  withal 
a  liberal  religious  experience.  An  article  among  Mr. 
Badger's  papers,  written  a  year  earlier  than  this,  is 
devoted  to  the  gifts  and  sphere  of  woman  in  the  church, 
which,  though  it  does  not  parallel  the  claims  made  by 
the  modern  Conventions,  proves  the  mind  of  its  author 
to  be  free  from  the  Oriental  bigotry,  and  in  sympathy 
with  the  nobler  aspirations  of  woman's  mind.  On 
the  21th  of  this  month,  at  a  general  meeting  held  at 
Greenville,  Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  in  the  presence  of 
several  ministers,  of  an  assembly  of  about  two  thou- 
sand people,  and  under  the  umbrageous  veiling  of 
forest  leaves,  he  spoke  from  Ps.  40 :  1,  2,  3 ;  "  in 
which,"  says  the  reporter  of  the  sermons  given,  "  he 
noticed  fifteen  distinct  particulars,  and  we  could  say 
the  word  was  rightly  divided  and  a  portion  given  to 
each  in  due  season.  He  proved  himself  a  workman 
that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed."  Speaking  of  this 
discourse,  Mr.  Spoor,  who  reported  the  order  of  the 
meeting  to  the  public  press,  said  that  he  appeared 
before  the  people  "  like  a  cloud  full  of  rain ; "  and 
probably  there  are  few  men  in  the  ministry  anywhere 
whose  "  doctrine  "  dropped  more  "  like  the  rain," 
or  whose  speech  "  distilled  "  more  "  like  the  dew," 
than  his.     His  manner  was  dignified  and  gentle. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Badger  related  the  substance 
of  his  missionary  adventures  to  his  intimate  friend, 
Hon.  Ezra  Wate,  of  West  Bloomfield^  N.  Y.,  in  a 
series  of  letters,  written  hastily  at  snatches  of  time 
whilst  on  his  way.     From  these  we  learn  the  events 


228  MEMOIR    OP 

of  the  few  montlis  that  remam  of  1820.     To  him  he 
says: 

"  I  am  happy  in  a  travelling  capacity,  as  I  like  the 
work  of  a  missionary  ;  but  I  am  troubled  with  the  unsettled 
state  of  what  I  may  call  my  own  affairs  ;  —  my  home  in 
Mendon,  my  dear  little  daughter  in  Lima,  and  I,  every- 
where. I  can  now  see  how  true  my  friends  have  been  to 
me  in  Ontario  County,  and  oh,  that  Providence  had 
favored  me  with  the  blessing  of  living  and  of  dying  among 
them !  How  painful  the  remembrance  of  departed  joys 
that  may  never  be  recalled  !  Though  surrounded  with 
the  best  society,  though  often  thronged  with  company,  I 
am  constantly  alone,  and  I  have  many  lonesome,  discon- 
solate and  dejected  hours.  No  chastisement  for  the  pres- 
ent seems  joyous." 

He  speaks  of  a  great  meeting  held  at  Cortright, 
Delaware  county,  at  which  he  spoke  twice,  heard 
five  discourses  from  other  ministers  present,  namely, 
Uriah  Smith,  0.  E.  Morrill,  and  Jesse  Thompson, — 
a  meeting  at  which  the  converting  power  of  God  was 
signally  displayed  among  the  people.  Under  date  of 
October  5,  he  says : 


"  My  mind  has  often  flown  from  the  crowd  of  new 
friends  and  acquaintances  that  surround  me,  to  the  enjoy- 
ment of  those  old  friends  with  whom  I  have  taken  sweet 
counsel  in  years  that  are  past.  Was  I  coming  into  trials 
and  conflicts,  I  should  be  constrained  to  say  of  my  new 
acquaintances,  as  David  did  of  Saul's  armour,  *  I  have  not 
proved  it.'  Friends  whom  we  have  proved,  friends  who 
have  merited  our    confidence,   are   priceless  in  value. 


KEV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  229 

Solomon  knew  tlie  worth  of  this  truth  when  he  said,  '  A 
friend  loveth  at  all  times.' " 

Also,  under  date  of  October  16th ,  he  writes, 

*'  My  health  is  much  better  than  when  I  left  this  coun- 
try, and  never  did  I  enjoy  my  mind  better  than  now,  and 
never  did  I  experience  greater  freedom  in  preaching  than 
on  this  journey.  Amidst  all  my  misfortunes  I  have  a  world 
of  felicity  in  view.  It  is  a  time  of  reformation  in  this 
county  (Cayuga).  I  shall  speak  next  Sabbath  evening  in 
the  Court  House  at  Auburn,  and  the  first  Sabbath  in 
November  I  Avill  preach  at  our  chapel  in  Mendon." 

Letters  from  many  quarters  and  from  leading  men 
in  community,  came  in,  soliciting  him  to  come  and 
preach,  and  not  unfrequently  did  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  other  denominations  second  these  requests  by 
oflfering  their  chapels  for  his  use. 

A  plain,  concise,  and  kindly  letter  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Patching,  in  which  he  vindicates  the  ordinances  of 
the  Gospel  against  the  denials  of  Mr.  P.,  Avho  had, 
by  Mr.  Badger's  recommendations,  been  preaching 
to  his  congregations,  belongs  to  this  year.  The  main 
object  of  the  letter  seems  to  have  been  to  call  out 
investigation,  and  to  throw  some  conservative  influ- 
ence around  a  boldly  speculative  mind.  The  follow- 
ing extract  will  show  its  spirit  and  its  point : 

"Very  dear  and  affectionate  Brother, — "With 
the  warmest  affection  and  from  a  clear  evidence  of  duty, 
I  hastily  pen  a  few  lines  for  your  consideration,  hoping 
that  it  may  not  only  serve  as  an  introduction  to  a  familiar 
correspondence  between  us,  but  that  it  may  lead  us  to 


230  MEMOIR   OF 

discuss,  investigate,  and  harmonize  our  views  relative  to 
the  doctrine  of  the  Gospel  and  the  ordinances  of  the  New 
Dispensation. 

"  I  was  not  alarmed  relative  to  the  suggestions  you 
made  in  my  presence  concerning  a  *  new  light '  you  had 
received,  which  led  you  to  deny  the  ordinances  of  the 
Gospel,  as  I  thought  your  experience  would  soon  teach  you 
your  error,  and  the  impropriety  of  annulling  what  Christ 
and  the  Apostles  have  established  —  what  both  primitive 
and  modern  Christians  have  rejoiced  in.  But  when  I  dis- 
covered a  division  in  the  peaceful  flock  of  my  charge,  and 
at  our  last  communion,  three  of  our  once  happy  brethren 
stay  away,  their  seats  vacant  which  have  been  so  faithfully 
filled  for  years,  persons  whom  I  have  heard  praise  God  on 
such  occasions,  I  cannot  refrain  from  giving  you  my  senti- 
ments, and  from  assuring  you  that  after  carefully  review- 
ing the  subject,  I  must  still  *  Teach  and  baptize  in  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,'  (Luke  IG  :  15,  16  ;  Matt.  28  :  19,  20,)  and  shall 
continue  *  steadfast  in  the  Apostles'  doctrine  and  in  break- 
ing of  bread  and  of  prayers,' Acts  11:41-46.  Your 
*uew  light,'  as  it  is  called  in  this  region,  to  me  is  an  old 
error,  agitated  by  the  Quakers  two  centuries  ago,  and 
more  recently  adopted  and  taught  by  the  Shakers. 

"  Water  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper  are  the  two 
main  ordinances  of  the  new  dispensation.  I  think  there 
was  no  such  practice  as  either  of  these  among  the  Jews 
previous  to  John,  who  came  to  prepare  the  way  for  the 
Messiah.  At  least,  the  Scriptures  make  no  mention  of 
any  such  practice  under  the  law.  Baptism  was  first 
practised  by  John,  was  subsequently  sanctioned  by  the 
precepts  and  example  of  God's  holy  Son ;  and  since  it  is 
comprehended  in  his  Commission  to  the  Apostles,  it  must 
continue  to  be  as  lastingly  and  as  extensively  observed  as 


REV.   JOSEPH  BADGER.  231 

the  Gospel  itself.  It  is  no  more  local  or  temporary  than 
the  mission  which  contains  it.  The  Supper  also  was  first 
introduced  by  the  Saviour  on  the  night  in  which  he  was 
betrayed,  and  even  after  his  resurrection  he  sanctioned  it 
by  appearing  at  the  head  of  the  table.  It  is  very  evident 
that  tlie  custom  was  continued  among  the  disciples,  and 
shall  we  say  that  the  Apostles  and  the  ancient  Christians 
generally  were  under  the  delusion  of  the  devil  in  coming 
together  on  the  first  day  of  the  week  to  preach  and  to 
break  bread  ?  If  not,  where  is  the  impropriety  of  our 
following  the  Apostles  in  this  thing  ?  Are  -they  and  the 
holy  Scriptures  our  example,  or  are  we  to  be  governed  by 
imagination  ?  My  dear  brother,  what  can  be  your  motive 
in  this  great  stir  ?  Do  you  think  your  labor  on  this  sub- 
ject essential  to  the  conversion  of  souls  ?  Or  is  it  possible 
that  pride  and  vanity  have  joined  to  induce  you  to  become 
the  author  of  something  new,  to  be  at  the  head  of  a  party  ? 
My  charity  forbids  me  to  think  this.  I  hope  for  better 
things.  As  a  gentleman  of  science,  as  a  Gospel  minister, 
you  have  entered  upon  the  very  responsible  stage  of  pub- 
lic life.  Your  station  is  high,  your  position  is  critical,  and 
it  becomes  you  to  walk  gently  before  the  Lord.  This  is  a 
time  in  which  we  should  pray  fervently,  think  soberly,  and 
act  with  deliberation.  AVe  should  write  the  words  of  God 
with  carefulness.  Br.  Millard  informs  me  that  you  intend 
to  publish  a  work  on  this  subject.  Allow  me  to  advise  you 
to  be  cautious,  as  an  error  once  sent  forth  to  the  reading 
"world  can  only  wdth  great  difiiculty  be  recalled.  A  blun- 
der at  the  commencement  of  one's  public  life  may  cause 
perpetual  injury. '  I  advise  you  to  lay  your  views  before 
some  enlightened  council,  or  to  correspond  with  able 
ministers  on  the  subject.  If  you  have  a  true  light,  others 
can  see  it ;  if  not,  you  will  be  assisted  in  season  by  the 
wisdom  of  others." 


232  MEMom  OP 

Mr  P.,  it  -svould  appear,  Tvas  a  minister  of  tlie 
Freewill  Baptist  denomination,  had  associated  some 
with  Mr.  Badger  *  in  public  life ;  but  instead  of  ad- 
hering to  the  suggestions  of  his  friend,  it  seems  that 
he  published  a  small  volume,  in  which  he  sent  bap- 
tism, the  Lord's  Supper,  ordination,  and  the  divinely 
inspired  character  of  the  Scriptures,  into  endless  ban- 
ishment, with  certain  broadcast  allegations  against 
the  fratemitj  to  which  he  had  belonged.  In  1823, 
Mr.  Badger  wrote  six  strong  chapters  in  reply  to  his 
volume,  apparently  at  the  request  of  the  denomina- 
tion from  which  the  author  of  the  book  had  previously 
hailed.  The  title  of  Mr.  B.'s  manuscript  read  thus : 
"  A  Plea  for  the  Innocent ;  and  T.  Patching's  Writings 
against  Baptism,  Lord's  Supper,  Ordination,  and  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  criticised.  By  Joseph  Badger, 
Mmister  of  the  New  Testament."  Among  the  mottoes 
of  the  title-page  is  this : 

"  He  brushed  the  cobwebs  from  his  brethren's  urn, 
Yet  spared  the  insect  that  wove  the  web." 

But  we  judge  the  insect  was  not  wholly  spared.  Jit 
is  ably  written.  Perhaps  a  glance  into  the  boldness 
of  the  speculations  of  Mr.  P.  may  be  gained  in  the 
statement  that  among  his  common-place  are  positions 
like  these :  "  The  Bible  is  the  God  of  thousands,  a 
stumbling-block  to  the  blind,  and  the  foundation  of 
Priestcraft  —  the  means  by  which  Satan,  through  his 
prelates,  has  served  himself  to  the  best  advantage ; " 
that  those  who  advocate  the  Bible,  though  less  numer- 

*  Both  were  active  members  of  the  Union  Convention  held  in  Co- 
vington, Genesee,  January,  1820. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER,  233 

ous  than  those  who  follow  the  Alcoran,  are  probably 
not  less  blind  or  wicked  ;  and  that  the  Scriptures  "  are 
not  so  much  as  one  stone  in  the  foundation  upon  which 
God  has  made  man's  salvation  dependent ; "  and  that 
through  scripture  medium  no  man  derives  spiritual 
knowled<^e.  Why  Mr.  Badger's  reply  was  never  pub- 
lished, is  unknown ;  perhaps  the  passing  away  of  the 
excitement  attendant  on  the  first  introduction  of  the 
work  of  Mr.  P.,  led  to  the  conclusion  that  its  publi- 
cation was  unnecessary.  "  I  have  traced  with  care," 
says  Mr.  B.,  "  the  writings  of  Volney,  the  noted 
French  atheist,  and  I  think  he  treats  the  Scripture 
with  more  fairness  and  respect ;  whilst  Hume  and 
Bolingbroke  are  decidedly  too  modest  to  rank  with 
him.  But  when  we  turn  to  the  pages  of  Mr.  Paine, 
Mr.  Allen,  and  Voltaire,  we  find  a  style  and  manner 
that  admit  of  comparison  with  the  writings  now  mider 
discussion." 

December  14,  1820,  in  writing  to  his  father  from 
West  Bloomfield,  he  said : — 

"  The  church  under  my  care  in  this  region  is  in  a 
flourishing  state,  and  my  work  is  in  this  country.  I 
think  it  my  duty  to  continue  here.  I  shall  endeavor  ere 
long  to  visit  you,  as  my  anxiety  is  great  to  see  you  once 
more.  Though  I  ceased  to  keep  house  the  day  after  the 
death  of  Mary  Jane,  I  think  it  will  be  ray  duty,  at  some 
future  period,  to  resume  my  home  in  this  place — a  home 
which  is  now  left  unto  me  desolate." 

December  17,  from  Lima,  he  speaks  of  an  important 
reformation,  and  of  a  prospering  society  of  Christians 
in  the  town  of  Williamson,  now  Marion,  Wayne  County, 


234  MEMOIR    OP 

New  York,  a  town  in  which  Mr.  Badger  at  different 
times  has  labored  with  success,  and  where  to  this  day 
the  society  of  liberal  Christians  under  the  ministry  of 
Rev.  Amasa  Staunton,  is  prosperous  and  strong.  It 
was  his  primary  intention  to  have  journeyed  to  the 
land  of  his  birth  and  early  ministerial  success  in  New 
England,  when  the  sacred  ties  of  his  domestic  life 
were  broken  ;  but  a  sudden  misfortune,  which  deprived 
him  of  his  intended  method  of  conveyance,  caused 
him  to  employ  the  time  in  visiting  those  places  in 
eastern  New  York,  spoken  of  in  the  latter  pages  of 
this  chapter.  On  his  return,  whilst  at  Brutus,  he 
received  a  message  from  Mr.  Oliver  True,  then  in 
Ontario  county,  that  from  Williamson  an  urgent  re- 
quest had  arrived  that  he  should  come  to  baptize  a 
large  number  of  converts  ;  and  though  no  answer 
positively  decides  his  compliance  at  that  time,  it  is 
certain  that  he  has  frequently  bestowed  labor  on  that 
community,  and  was  present  and  assisted  in  the 
or«:amzation  of  that  church  in  1820. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  ^35 

CHAPTER  XII. 

WRITINGS,  MARRIAGE,   TRAVELS. 

A  DISCOURSE  on  the  Atonement,  written  the  early 
part  of  1821,  vindicates  the  paternity  of  God,  in  the 
equal  generosity  of  his  provisions  for  the  salvation  of 
all  men  who  will  obey  the  truth.  It  is  indeed  a  strong 
vindication,  one  that  sifts  the  premises  of  Calvinism 
most  thoroughly ;  and  though  changes  that  have  since 
been  wrought  in  the  public  mind  render  the  present 
value  of  such  arguments  and  discussions  far  less  than 
their  worth  at  the  period  of  their  formation,  they  are 
still  valuable  as  evidences  of  the  former  states  of  theo- 
logical thinking  and  of  the  force  and  clearness  of  mind 
with  which  the  author  treated  the  subject.  His  dis- 
course is  entitled  "  The  Way  of  Salvation,  or.  The 
Nature  and  Effects  of  Atonement.''  He  shows  in  the 
expressive  motto  of  the  first  leaf,  that  he  centres  all  in 
Christ :  "  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away 
the  sin  of  the  world ; "  the  sermon  is  founded  on 
Romans  5:18:"  Therefore,  as  by  the  offence  of  one 
judgment  came  upon  all  men  to  condemnation,  even  so 
by  the  righteousness  of  one  the  free  gift  came  upon  all 
men  unto  justification  of  life." 

In  the  treatment  of  this  topic,  Mr.  Badger  has  but 
two  simple  divisions ;  the  first  is  the  offence  and 
condemnation,  the  second  treats  of  the  free  gift  and 
its  design.  After  alluding  to  Calvinism  and  to  Uni- 
versaUsm  as  having  the  same  roots,  and  differing  only 


236  MEMOIR    OP 

in  respect  to  the  mnnher  embraced  In  the  arbitrarily 
elective  plan,  he  announces  the  truth  as  being  free 
from  these  extremes,  and  as  leading  the  mind  of  the 
hearer  along  the  healing  stream  of  God's  benevo- 
lence as  it  widening  floors  through  all  nations  and 
chmes. 

In  referring  to  the  primeval  state,  he  suggests  that 
we  are  a  distant  posterity  ;  that  vre  may  not  presume 
to  know  all  that  belonged  to  the  early  Eden  and  to 
man's  primitive  condition.  He  asks  the  question  — 
What  is  sin  ?  What  is  its  origin  ?  What  are  its  effects  ? 
He  says,  that  the  definition  given  by  St.  John  3  :  4, 
is  the  most  definite  that  the  whole  Scripture  yields, 
that,  in  1  John  5 :  17,  there  is  a  good  general  view 
of  it  in  the  statement  that  all  unrighteousness  is  sin, 
and  in  James  4  :  17,  the  same  view  is  confirmed  in  the 
affirmation,  that  "  To  him  that  knoweth  to  do  good 
and  doeth  it  not,  to  him  it  is  sin." 

"  The  first  sin  of  every  man,"  says  Mr.  Badger,  "  is 
the  doing  of  wrong  when  he  knows  what  is  right.  There 
must  be  a  knowledge  of  wrong ;  there  must  be  a  law  in 
the  mind  of  the  actor  to  render  his  action  sin.  Admit- 
ting this  scriptural  view,  how  can  we  consider  infants, 
and  children  unborn,  to  be  sinners  ?  Are  they  acquainted 
with  God's  will?  Do  they  know  his  law?  We  often 
hear  people  tell  of  the  '  sins  of  our  nature,'  and  of  being 
*  sinners  by  nature,'  and  of  the  '  sins  we  bring  into  the 
world  with  us  ; '  but  such  sins  are  unknown  to  the  Scrip- 
tures, are  unnamed  in  the  word  of  God,  and  the  idea  was 
invented  in  the  wilderness  ages  of  Christianity." 

"  Some,  in  speculating  on  the  Garden  of  Eden,  have 
so  spiritualized  the  transaction  as  to  please  their  own 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  237 

fancy ;  others  have  taken  the  garden,  trees,  and  fruit  in 
the  most  literal  sense,  and  thereby  have  plunged  them- 
selves into  darkness  and  difficulty.  It  is  said  that  '  God 
planted  a  garden  eastward,'  but,  as  none  are  informed  of 
its  locality,  its  latitude  and  longitude  on  the  globe,  it  is 
impossible  for  those  who  take  it  in  a  literal  sense  to  add 
any  discoveries  to  the  scripture  statements.  It  is  evident 
that  the  sin  of  our  first  parents  consisted  in  their  doing  a 
forbidden  act,  which  was  disloyalty  to  the  true  King. 
All  that  I  will  venture  to  say  is  this,  that  '  God  hath 
made  man  upright ;  but  they  have  sought  out  many  inven- 
tions.' " 

*'  In  regard  to  the  question,  who  is  the  author  of  sin, 
I  answer,  the  actor  is  its  author.  Temptation  is  not  sin. 
Sin  consists  in  submitting  to  the  influence  of  tempting 
objects.  If,  in  the  story  of  the  garden,  there  are  three 
distinct  sentences  of  condemnation  pronounced,  there 
were  also  three  distinct  sinful  actors.  Sin  originates  in 
each  lustful  mind.  Some  say,  Is  not  God  the  author  of 
all  things  ?  did  he  not  make  all  creatures  ?  Yes.  But 
sin  is  neither  a  thing  nor  a  creature.  It  is  the  act  of  a 
creature  who  is  enlightened  and  free.  Many,  failing  to 
make  God  the  author  of  their  sins,  labor  to  prove  that 
the  devil  originates  them,  and  thus  lay  to  him  that  of 
which  he  is  not  guilty,  and  that  which  they  had  better 
take  to  themselves." 

On  the  second  division  of  the  subject,  he  dwells  on 
Christ  as  the  great  mediatorial  centre  of  light  and 
mercy,  where  God  will  meet  all  mankind  in  their, 
striving  to  realize  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  By 
pleading  the  eternal  life  revealed  in  Christ  as  a  free 
gift,  and  by  urging  mankind  to  use  their  personal 
freedom  in  improving  the  new  advantages,  he  pre-> 


238  MEMOIR    OP 

sents  a  practical  At-one-ment  —  a  real  harmony  of  man 
with  God,  without  adopting  the  arbitrary  notions  of 
grace  prevailing  in  the  then  common  theology,  and 
without  implying  a  pacification  of  ^'  the  infinite 
wrath "  of  God  to  men,  a  sentiment  which,  in  a 
world  that  could  realize  the  import  of  words  so  care- 
lessly employed  in  theory,  would  be  regarded  as  the- 
utmost  profanation,  as  the  last  step  in  the  descending 
grades  of  religious  irreverence  and  unbelief. 

"The  heathen,"  says  Mr.  B.,  "  who  has  never  heard 
the  Gospel's  joyful  sound,  is  not  without  hope,  as  the  gen 
tie  rays  of  the  Holy  Spirit  have  influenced  his  mind  to 
reverence  the  Great  Spirit,  as  Christ  is  '  a  light  that  light- 
eth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world.'  He  may 
arise  from  his  darkness  and  misery  to  some  bright  man- 
sion in  the  New  Jerusalem,  while  high-minded  profess- 
ors and  superstitious  Jews  may  find  their  hopes  to  be 
those  of  the  hypocrite.  Under  these  views,  the  partial 
atonement  appears  in  feeble  colors,  and  the  universal 
love  of  God  to  men  shines  conspicuously  from  the  holy 
scripture  and  from  reason." 

Under  date  of  February  22,  1821,  at  Mendon,  K. 
Y.,  Mr.  Badger  informs  the  readers  of  the  Christian 
Herald,  that  he  has  just  returned  from  Genesee  and 
Alleghany  counties ;  that  in  Covington  a  successful 
reformation  had  begun ;  that  in  Perry,  Warsaw, 
Gainesville,  Orange ville  and  Pike,  he  found  the  peo- 
ple attentive  ;  that  "  the  star  which  rose  in  the  east 
shines  in  the  west  with  unfading  lustre."  He  speaks 
of  the  glad  news  of  revivals  that  had  reached  him 
from  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Canada,  and  different  sec- 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  239 

tions  of  the  State  of  New  York.  ''  Mj  health,"  he 
adds,  "  has  been  poor  the  month  past,  which  has  lo- 
cated mj  labors  some  ;  before  that,  for  six  months,  I 
had  as  many  meetings  as  there  were  days.  0,  how 
delightful  the  thought  of  meeting  all  the  e^ect  around 
the  Father's  throne  in  glory,  where,  from  every  nation 
and  sect,  all  will  join  in  one  harmonious  song  !  " 

March  12,  1821,  he  speaks  of  preaching  twice  at 
Perry,  to  large  and  solemn  assemblies,  among  whom 
he  thinks  the  power  of  the  Highest  was  spiritually 
manifest ;  of  meeting  the  aged  parents  of  Kev.  W. 
True,  who  were  happy  in  the  hopes  of  immortal  life. 
At  Middlebury,  he  says  that  he  found  the  attention 
great  to  "  hear  the  word  ;  "  that  at  the  Academy  his 
assemblies  were  large  ;  that,  one  evening,  by  request, 
he  preached  on  the  character  of  Christ,  taking  Isaiah 
9  :  6,  for  his  text. 

'*  One  Presbyterian  and  several  Baptist  clergymen 
were  present.  I  first  spoke  on  the  origin,  nature,  charac- 
ter, titles  and  dignity  of  Christ,  in  which  I  endeavored  to 
prove  him  divine,  and  an  object  of  worship.  2.  I  noticed 
the  origin,  nature,  effects  and  supports  of  the  doctrine  of 
the  Trinity,  in  which  I  gave  the  reasons  why  I  dissented 
from  that  doctrine.  I  endeavored  to  show  that  my  faith 
gave  me  a  divine  Saviour,  and  that  Trinitarianism  is 
obliged  to  rely  on  a  human  sacrifice." 

"  I  am  sensible,"  said  he,  "that  my  visit  will  be 
remembered  by  the  sAriTze-maker's,"  for  which  he 
assigns  as  a  reason  that  in  the  partisan  zeal  of  his 
opponents,  there  were  many  who  seemed  ready  to  ex- 
claim,   "  Great  is  Diana ! "     He  speaks  of  Mr.  "W. 


240  MEMOIR    OP 

True,  then  pastor  of  the  society  at  Covington,  as 
being  both  "  a  son  of  thunder  and  of  consolation  ; "  as 
an  exemplary  instance  of  self-sacrifice  and  of  fidelity 
to  the  truth.  As  Mr.  B.  did  not  sail  under  doctrinal 
idolatries,  he  says,  at  the  conclusion  of  his  address, 
"  Love  is  the  badge  of  the  Christian  and  the  tenet  of 
Heaven  ;  may  hoUness  be  our  motto  forever." 

Let  us  return,  after  this  absence,  to  the  social 
relations  of  IMr.  Badger.  We  had  seen  his  family 
dispersed,  his  home  broken  up  by  death  in  the  early 
part  of  1820.  We  have  traced  him  in  his  subsequent 
travels,  in  his  various  public  labors  since  that  time,' 
and  found  that  amidst  the  sorro^y  and  loneliness  that 
enshrouded  his  spirit,  his  former  home  in  Ontario 
County,  the  friends  that  tbei-e  clustered  about  him  as 
their  religious  teacher,  formed  the  central  attraction 
to  which  he  turned  with  the  deep  and  permanent 
feelings  of  home.  The  class  of  persons  Mr.  B.  had 
there  attached  to  himself,  were  the  intelligent,  the 
responsible  and  influential,  which,  added  to  the  happy 
associations  that  still  Imgered  in  the  bower  of  memory, 
and  the  presence  there  of  the  only  remaining  relic  of 
his  family,  it  is  natural,  it  is  reasonable,  that  this 
region  of  the  State,  to  which  he  seems  to  have  been 
providentially  sent,  should  have  attracted  him  more 
than  any  other  place.  A  new  period  now  arrives  in 
his  life.  Not  merely  from  a  sense  of  duty  to  himself 
or  daughter,  but,  if  one  may  rightly  judge  from  the 
sincere  embodiment  of  the  heart  in  a  multitude  of  let- 
ters, written  under  various  circumstances  and  at  dif- 
ferent times,  in  after  life,  from  sincere,  earnest  and 
abiding  affection,  did  he  now  form  the  marriage  alii- 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  241 

ance  which  continued  until  his  death,  and  which  placed 
him  at  the  head  of  a  talented  and  moderately  numer- 
ous family.     March  21st,  1821,   he  was  married  to 
Miss   Eliza   Maria    Sterling,   a   talented,   respectable 
young  woman  of  Lima,  New  York,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Sterling,  Esq.,  who  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers, 
and  an  honored  citizen  of  that  town.     Again  the  star 
of  his  earthly  destiny  seemed  to  emerge  from  clouds, 
and  to  shine  with  promise  on  future  years.     Her  pa- 
rents were  members  of  the  society  of  which  Mr.  Badger 
was  pastor,  were  acquainted  with  him  from  and  before 
his  settlement  in  the  town  of  Mendon,  and  frequently 
had  he  been  a  guest  in  the  family  of  Mr.   StcrHng. 
With  new  and  respectable  relations,  with  a  companion 
whom  he  deeply  and  abidingly  loved  —  one  that  frankly 
and  wisely  expressed  the  sentiments  and  opinions  that 
became   the   responsible    relation   she   had   assumed ; 
with  his  little  daughter,  Lydia  Elizabeth,  whom  he 
now  took  from  her  boarding-house  to  his  new  home, 
Mr.  Badger  again  felt  that  life  to  him  was  verdant  in 
the  promises  of  peace  and  happiness.     Immediately  is 
he  at  the  head  of  anew  and   an  independent  home, 
where  his  cheerful  and  genial  nature  made  the  light 
of  happiness  to  shine  about  him.     From  the  particular 
cast  of  mind  possessed  by  Mrs.  B.,  in  which  the  fac- 
ulty of  judgment,  of  clear-sightedness  on  matters  of 
practical  moment,  was  decidedly  prominent,  she  be- 
came in  a  degree  his  counsellor  in  all  the  great  and 
important  enterprises  of  his  life. 

In  the  duties  of  his  pastoral  and   his   new  social 
relations,  the  months  of  April,  May,  June  and  July 
passed  away.     Among  his  correspondence   of  1818, 
11 


242  MEMOIR    OF 

1819  and  1820,  there  are  several  requests  from  old 
acquaintances  and  friends  in  the  Province  of  Canada, 
for  him  again  to  visit  the  region  of  his  former  labors. 
August  7th,  1821,  he  started  on  such  a  tour,  taking 
passage  in  the  steamboat  at  the  mouth  of  the  Genesee 
river  for  Ogdensburg.  Leaving  the  river  at  4  P.M., 
the  vessel  soon  disappeared  from  the  sight  of  land,  but, 
through  the  violence  of  wind  and  storm,  it  vras  driven 
back  sixty  miles  into  the  port  of  Oswego. 

"  On  this  occasion,"  said  Mr.  Badger,  *'  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  some  profiine  wretches,  who  were  blas- 
phemers in  the  calm,  cease  their  profanity,  and  grow  sol- 
emn in  the  midst  of  danger.  We  arrived  at  Oswego  just 
at  daylight,  where  we  spent  the  day.  I  visited  several 
places,  talked  with  many  about  salvation,  and  had  a  good 
time  in  solitude  and  prayer.  We  left  there  12  o'clock  at 
night,  and,  in  seven  hours,  arrived  at  Sackett's  Harbor ; 
here  I  had  an  agreeable  interview  on  shore  with  Judge 
Fields,  who  gave  me  an  account  of  a  glorious  reformation 
in  that  village,  in  which  a  large  number  had  found  the 
Saviour  to  be  precious ;  he  said  they  were  well  engaged 
and  united.  The  converts  had,  many  of  them,  joined  the 
Methodists  and  Presbyterians,  and  some  of  them  remained 
simply  Christians.  The  judge  seemed  to  take  a  great 
interest  in  the  work,  which  he  said  was  still  increasing." 

"  The  10th  inst.  we  arrived  at  Ogdensburg.  I  made 
several  visits  on  shore,  and  found  it  a  wicked  place ;  as 
St.  Paul  said  of  Athens,  '  the  whole  city  was  given  to 
idolatry.'  The  11th,  lodged  at  a  place  called  the  Cedars, 
on  the  St.  Lawrence,  a  French  village,  and  a  people  of 
strange  language.  The  12th,  we  spent  the  Sabbath  on  a 
small  island  in  Lake  St.  Clair,  but,  at  evening,  we  reached 
a  small  village  at  the  mouth  of  the  Shatagee  River,  which 


KEV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  243 

is  one  of  the  most  wretched  places  I  ever  saw.  A  gentle- 
man told  me  that  the  inhabitants  were  part  of  them 
French,  a  part  Indian,  and  a  part  Devil.  I  had  reason 
to  believe  it.  Early  in  the  morning  I  visited  the  Indian 
town,  Cogh-ne-wa-ga,  and  found  some  of  them  willing  to 
hear  of  the  crucified  Jesus.  I  have  just  arrived  in  this 
pleasant  town,  Montreal,  but  shall  leave  it  soon  for  the 
townships  east,  as  I  intend  to  visit  my  father's  house, 
which  I  have  not  seen  for  five  years.  A  gentleman  from 
England  has  just  informed  me  that  he  has  discovered  a 
general  belief  among  all  sects  in  England,  for  ten  years 
past,  that  God  is  about  to  work  an  overture  in  Christen- 
dom, for  the  union  of  all  sects  of  Christians.  Happy  is 
every  person  who  possesses  that  spirit." 

The  English  gentleman  here  alluded  to  was  proba- 
bly Commodore  Woolscy,  who  had  been  his  company 
from  Sackett's  Harbor  to  Ogdensburg,  of  -whom  in 
another  letter,  he  says  :  — 

"  One  afternoon,  after  a  long  discussion  on  different 
religious  societies,  and  on  pure  religion,  the  Commodore, 
apparently  with  a  feeling  heart,  observed,  *  Sir,  I  am 
sensible  that  our  variety  of  belief  and  forms  of  worship 
are  principally  owing  to  our  education ;  but  pure  religion 
is  one  thing  wherever  you  find  it ;  it  is  the  work  of  God 
in  the  heart,  a  principle  of  godliness  implanted  within.'  " 

In  a  very  easy  and  happy  manner,  Mr.  Badger,  in 
travelling,  won  the  attention  of  strangers,  and  drew 
out  a  free  expression  of  thought  from  the  best  minds ; 
and  this  sentiment  —  that  pure  religion  is  substantially 
one  thing  over  all  the  earth,  was  one  which  met  the 


244  MEMOIR    OF 

deepest  response  in  the  entire  life  and  philosophy  of 
the  subject  of  this  memoir. 

September  12,  1821,  from  Compton,  L.  C,  in  the 
district  of  the  Three  Rivers,  he  writes  that  from 
Montreal  he  took  passage  for  Sevel,  a  French  village, 
at  the  head  of  Lake  St.  Peter's ;  that  from  thence  he 
made  his  way  to  the  Indian  village  on  St.  Francisway 
River,  where,  eight  years  before,  he  had  formed  some 
acquaintance  with  their  chief,  through  whose  influence 
he  now  hoped  for  an  opportunity  to  preach  to  those 
unsophisticated  sons  of  the  forest,  children  of  wild 
and  beautiful  traditions,  soul-taught  worshippers  of  the 
Great  Spirit.  The  absence  of  the  chief  at  court  frus- 
trated his  plan. 

"  I  found  the  village  in  a  flourishing  situation  ;  a  large 
meeting-house  was  being  built;  an  English  scjiool  had 
already  been  established,  and  the  natives  were  fast  im- 
proving in  the  arts  and  sciences.  Capt.  St.  Francisway 
is  an  interpreter  of  several  nations,  and  can  speak  in 
eight  languages." 

On  foot,  Mr.  B.  continued  his  journey  up  the  river 
through  a  wretched  country,  until  he  arrived  at  a 
settlement  formed  by  the  remnant  of  an  old  British 
army,  to  whom  the  government  had  given  lands. 
Mr.  B.  considered  them  in  nearly  a  state  of  starva- 
tion, and  after  almost  exhausting  himself  with  hunger 
and  fatigue,  he  sat  in  lonely  meditation  beneath  a 
sturdy  pine,  reflecting  on  the  divine  goodness  and  the 
dangers  he  had  tempted  in  this  new  wilderness  way. 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  245 

*'  In  the  evening  I  arrived  at  the  cottage  of  an  old  sol- 
dier. They  had  neither  meat,  bread,  nor  milk  to  set 
before  me.  I  obtained  permission  to  sleep  on  the  floor, 
but  I  had  some  reason  to  suspect  that  they  were  thieves 
and  robbers ;  and  I  thought  that  the  surest  way,  and 
finally  the  only  way  for  my  safety,  was  to  preach  salvation 
to  them.  Accordingly  I  gave  them  a  long  discourse, 
which  was  so  far  attended  by  the  power  of  God  as  to 
enable  me  to  make  friends  in  this  instance  of  the  mammon 
of  unrighteousness.  I  was  glad  to  see  the  morning  light, 
and  walked  eight  miles  before  I  could  get  my  breakfast." 

He  visited  his  father's  residence  in  Compton,  stayed 
some  weeks,  gave  three  funeral  sermons  in  that  town, 
visited  the  old  parishes  where  he  had  formerly  preached, 
wept  at  the  grave  of  many  a  fallen  friend,  heard  the 
prayerful  voice  of  repenting  sinners,  and  the  rejoicing 
songs  of  converted  ones. 

After  completing  his  visit  in  the  king's  dominion, 
Mr.  Badger,  about  the  middle  of  September,  started 
for  home,  proceeding  through  the  State  of  Vermont 
over  the  Green  Mountains  to  Ballston  and  Saratoga ; 
thence,  after  a  visit  at  Amsterdam,  where  he  informs 
us  several  hundred  had  entered  into  the  enjoyment 
of  the  religious  life  during  the  past  year,  he  advanced 
up  the  Mohawk  to  Utica  ;  ,and  spending  the  Sabbath 
at  Westmoreland,  with  Rev.  J.  S.  Thompson,  and 
attending  appointments  on  the  way  at  Brutus,  Ca- 
millus.  Auburn  and  Geneva,  he  arrived  at  home  Oc- 
tober 5,  which  completed  a  journey  of  1200  miles, 
"  in  which  time,"  said  he,  "  I  have  witnessed  the  most 
stupendous  displays  of  God's  mercy  and  salvation." 
At  the  city  of  Rochester,  he  attended  several  meetings 


246  MEMOIR    OP 

before  the  commencement  of  the  next  year,  where  he 
gained  the  attention  of  the  people. 

The  year  preceding  1821,  Mr.  Badger  became  a 
member  of  the  fraternity  of  Masons,  an  institution 
■which  he  always  prized  for  its  wisdom,  morality  and 
benevolence,  and  one  in  which  he  made  superior  ad- 
vancement.* Not  given  to  ultra  rashness,  he  did 
not  extol  the  institution  beyond  its  evident  merits 
w^hen  glory  and  influence  were  on  its  side,  nor  did 
the  temporary  storm  that  assailed  it  draw  from  him 
violent  resistance,  or  concessions  that  could  be  con- 
strued into  disestecm  for  the  great  designs,  general 
rules  and  customs  of  Masonry.  He  not  unfrequently 
gave  public  addresses  to  the  Masonic  community  in 
his  own  State,  occasionally  assisted  in  the  ceremonies 
of  initiation  and  of  progi'ess  in  the  Order,  and  in 
other  States  of  the  Union  he  sometimes  gave  ad- 
dresses. 

Traces  of  writings  are  left,  from  1821,  that  embody 
an  effort  to  systematize  the  facts  of  history,  and  to 
retain  what  struck  him  as  most  important,  —  history 
relatmg  to  Egypt,  Persia,  Palestine,  Ptome,  Arabia 
and  China.  But  usually,  such  was  the  fulness  of 
the  active  life  of  Mr.  Badger,  and  of  his  reliance  on 
the  resources  of  his  natural  ability  and  experience, 
that  he  was  not  a  close,  laborious  student,  though  he 
was  never  at  a  loss,  when  occasion  required,  in 
showing  an  accurate  command  ,of  the  substantial 
facts  of  history  and  of  science  bearing  on  the  sub- 
ject in  hand. 

*  His  degree  in  Masonry  was  the  Royal  Arch. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  247 

In  1822,  in  addition  to  his  local  labors,  Mr.  Badger 
visited  Sajbrook  and  Lyme,  Connecticut,  attended 
the  United  States  General  Conference  holden  at 
Greenville,  Green  County,  N.  Y.,. besides  attending 
to  several  calls  at  a  distance  from  home.  I  would 
here  remark  that  a  United  States  General  Confer- 
ence,* though  its  origin  was  rather  informal,  was  at 
last  a  body  composed  of  ministers  and  delegates 
from  different  local  Conferences,  that  its  object  was 
to  discuss  and  advise  in  relation  to  subjects  of  general 
interest  to  the  cause  in  which  the  promoters  of  a 
liberal  and  an  evangelical  Christianity  were  engaged. 
It  was  not  uncommon  for  them  to  discuss  abstract 
themes  of  faith  and  church  polity,  for  the  purpose  of 
gaining  greater  light  in  the  multitude  of  counsel. 
Such  convocations  dictated  no  articles  of  faith,  pre- 
sented no  formula  of  belief  except  the  generally  con- 
ceded revelations  of  God.  In  the  annual  meeting 
here  named,  held  September  5,  6,  7,  the  second 
resolution  adopted  was,  that  Christian  fellowship  arises 
from  satisfactory  evidence  of  being  born  of  the  Spirit 
of  God,  and  that  it  properly  extends  to  all  who  walk 
after  "  the  rule  of  Christ."  This  body,  though  in 
many  things  it  proved  useful,  especially  in  its  free 
discussion,  was,  by  mutual  agreement,  finally  dissolved 
at  Milan,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  October  2,  1832, 
chiefly  from  the  considerations  that  the  wants  it  had 
met  might  now  by  other  methods  be  more  successfully 
reached,  that  it  was  inconvenient  to  assemble  annually 

*  At  first,  it  was  a  voluntary  assemblage,  called  general  because 
all  denominations  vrere  invited  to  participate ;  later,  delegates  from 
local  Conferences  were  appointed. 


248  MEMom  OP 

from  parts  so  remote,  and  tliat  in  time  it  might  out- 
strip its  original  intentions,  and  become  a  centralization 
of  power  to  the  injury  of  congregational  sentiments. 
At  the  meeting  which  followed  the  Conference,  Sun- 
day, September  8,  Mr.  Badger  preached  the  third 
discourse  from  Deut.  32 :  10 :  "  He  found  him  in  a 
waste  howling  wilderness  ;  he  led  him  about,  he  in- 
structed him,  he  kept  him  as  the  apple  of  his  eye." 
To  a  people  who  regarded  the  church  as  being  still  in 
the  wilderness,  as  merging  by  slow  degrees  out  into 
light  and  liberty,  and  as  always  dependent  on  Him 
who  led,  taught,  and  guarded  the  ancient  Israel  of  his 
choice,  such  a  text  and  sermon  were  suited  to  the  time 
and  the  occasion. 

In  1823,  he  made  a  tour  into  Pennsylvania,  accom- 
panied by  S.  D.  Buzzael,  a  minister  of  whom  he  speaks 
as  being  well  engaged  in  the  cause.  Preaching  on 
the  way  in  several  towns,  in  Dansville,  Naples,  Cohoc- 
ton  and  Bath,  he  arrived,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
month  of  March,  at  the  pleasant  village  of  Lewisburg, 
in  Union  County,  Pa.,  a  village  that  lies  embosomed 
in  the  wild  and  attractive  scenery  of  the  Susquehan- 
nah,  between  the  towns  of  Milton  and  Northumber- 
land. On  the  way,  he  held  a  quarterly  meeting  which 
he  had  previously  appointed  among  the  Methodists  in 
the  town  of  Cohocton,  Steuben  County,  where  he  met 
about  forty  church  members  and  two  ministers  who 
had  thrown  oif  the  authority  of  bishops,  and  styled 
themselves  Methodists,  rejecting  episcopacy  both  from 
their  name  and  their  doctrine.  To  them,  in  company 
with  D.  Millard,  of  West  Bloomfieid,  he  preached  and 
administered  the  communion  to  a  free  and  happy  peo- 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  249 

pie,  learning  at  the  same  time  that  in  New  York  there 
were  about  six  hundred  members  in  connection  with 
them  in  this  their  new  and  reformatory  position. 

Crossing  the  Cohocton  and  the  Canisteo  rivers,  in 
company  with  Mr.  Buzzael,  he  followed  the  course  of 
the  Tioga  to  the  town  of  Icoga,  Pa.,  then  crossing 
Peter's  Camp  and  the  Block  House  to  Lycoming  by 
the  Wilderness  road,  as  it  was  justly  called,  he  con- 
tinued his  way  through  the  enveloping  night  and  the 
descending  rain.  "We  had,"  says  Mr.  B.,  "to  as- 
cend and  descend  dreadful  mountains  to  obtain  a  lodg- 
ing among  strangers  in  a  strange  land.  We  were 
fatigued  and  sorrowful ;  but  Brother  Buzzael  broke  the 
silence  of  the  way  by  singing  the  following  lines : 

♦*  Though  dark  be  my  "way,  since  He  is  my  guide, 
'T  is  mine  to  obey,  't  is  His  to  provide  ; 
Though  cisterns  be  broken  and  creatures  all  fail, 
The  icord  He  has  spoken  will  surely  prevail." 

Pursuing  the  course  of  the  Lycoming,  he  struck  the 
west  branch  of  the  Susquehannah,  at  Williamsport, 
thence  to  Lcwisburg,  where  he  arrived  on  the  evening 
of  March  6th.  On  the  7th,  he  spoke  for  the  first  time- 
to  a  small  audience  on  the  subject  of  heaven ;  from 
this  time  his  assemblies  began  to  increase  and  his 
words  took  effect  among  the  people.  Mr.  Bacon  had 
been  somewhat  successful  in  preceding  years  in  that 
place.  Mr.  Badger  preached  several  sermons  in  the 
open  air,  as  no  house  would  hold  the  assemblies  that 
convened.  He  there  received  one  minister  into  the 
fellowship  of  the  Christian  connection  from  the  Meth- 
odists, Mr.  Andrew  Wolfe,  a  German  of  property, 
character,  and  respectable  talent,  who  preached  in  the 
11* 


250  MEMOIR    OP 

German  language; — had  three  baptizing  seasons, 
which  he  regarded  as  glorious,  preached  on  the  laying 
of  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  church,  from  Matt. 
16  :  18  ;  a  house  which  its  builders  designed  to  have 
in  a  state  of  completion  the  coming  autumn,  the  time 
of  Mr.  Badger's  contemplated  return.  In  Milton, 
Mifflinsburg,  Buffalo,  Whitedeer,  ChiUsquaque  and 
Northumberland,  he  also  preached ;  and  it  is  un- 
necessary to  state  that  the  impression  he  made  was 
strong  and  lasting  ;  particularly  in  Lewisburg,  where 
he  did  much  in  establishing  order  in  the  society  for 
whom  he  labored  ;  where  he  called  out  the  best  minds 
in  a  free  investigation  of  religious  subjects ;  and  where, 
at  different  times,  he  interested  the  community  with 
the  rich  and  varied  resources  of  his  ministerial  power  ; 
his  gifts  and  character  were  ever  held  in  admiration 
and  esteem.  Many  ministers  of  acknowledged  ability 
have  spoken  to  that  community,  but  from  personal 
knowledge  I  say  that  none,  taking  all  things  into  con- 
sideration, have  occupied  so  high  a  place,  for  true 
eloquence,  for  real  power  over  a  congregation  and  a 
community,  as  he. 

At  this  time,  Mr.  Badger  became  acquainted  with 
Rev.  James  Kay,  of  Northumberland,  a  fine  exam- 
ple of  English  gentility  and  politeness,  a  man  of 
classical  and  general  education,  and  a  theologian  of  no 
ordinary  accomplishment  in  the  Unitarian  school  of 
English  divines.  From  his  able  pen,  the  pages  of  the 
periodical  which  Mr.  B.  began  to  edit  in  1832,  were 
frequently  enriched.  Northumberland  is  a  quiet  town 
of  intelligence  and  wealth,  in  the  environs  of  lovely 
scenery,  the  waters  of  the   north  and  of  the   west 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  251 

branch  of  the  Susquehannah  there  joining  in  graceful 
amity,  whilst  the  perpendicular  walls  of  rock  tower  in 
calm  solemnity  before  it.  There  indeed  is  the  resting- 
place  of  the  philosopher  Priestley,  who  lived  a  life  of 
study  and  of  thought ;  who  enriched  science  by  nu- 
merous discoveries  and  the  cause  of  human  hberty  by 
his  political  views  ;  and,  at  the  close  of  an  arduous  life, 
died  in  the  light  of  the  confiding  piety  in  which  he 
had  lived  ;  on  whose  tombstone  is  this  inscription : 
"  I  lay  me  dotvn  to  rest  till  the  Resurrection  !  "  To 
the  congregation  founded  by  him  did  Mr.  Kay  for 
many  years  preach,  and  to  the  same  did  Mr.  Badger 
communicate  on  his  two  or  three  occasional  visits  to 
that  place.  From  a  letter  of  Mr.  Kay,  dated  Sep- 
tember 29,  1823,  I  discover  that  Mr.  Badger  was  in 
Lewisburg  at  that  time,  and  that  he  contemplated  a 
meeting  at  Northumberland. 

From  Lewisburg,  under  date  of  October  7,  1823,  he 
writes  to  Mrs.  Badger  as  follows : 

**  You  have  doubtless  heard  of  the  fatal  sickness  that 
now  rages  in  this  place.  It  still  continues.  I  preached 
a  funeral  sermon  last  Thursday,  and  I  am  informed  six 
or  seven  lay  dead  last  Sabbath  in  the  neighborhood.  But  I 
had  good  assemblies  at  our  newly  finished  meeting-house, 
on  Thursday  evening,  Sunday  and  Sunday  evening.  I 
found  the  Church  in  a  low  state.  Mr.  Bacon  had  sowed 
much  discord;  but  I  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  preach 
Christ  and  his  Gospel,  which  are  calculated  to  make  man- 
kind love  each  other  and  to  live  in  union.  God  only 
knows  the  burden  and  trials  I  felt  in  this  place  for  the 
first  week.  I  was  constrained  day  and  night  to  ask  God 
for  wisdom,  and  at  length  we  are  assisted  by  his  power. 


252  MEMOIR      OF 

Everybody  "who  can,  turns  out  to  hear  the  word,  and  very 
many  of  my  hearers  are  those  whose  pale  faces  declare 
the  reign  of  disease." 

I  have  had  two  church  meetings  and  was  determined 
to  establish  order  in  their  affairs,  or  give  them  up  for  a 
lost  and  deluded  people.  I  succeeded  far  beyond  my 
expectations.  1st.  I  examined  into  the  state  of  all  who 
had  ever  been  received  into  the  church,  found  that  one 
had  been  excluded,  three  had  died,  ten  had  removed,  thir- 
teen needed  to  be  specially  visited,  as  they  were  low  in 
spiritual  enjoyment  and  zeal,  and  fifty-nine  were  willing 
to  serve  God  with  all  their  hearts.  2.  I  called  on  them 
to  appoint  two  persons  to  take  the  oversight  of  the  tem- 
poralities; F.  L.  Metzger  and  John  Moore  were  ap- 
pointed. 3.  I  got  them  to  appoint  Andrew  Wolf  and 
John  Dunachy,  to  take  charge  of  the  meetings  in  my 
absence.  Thus  you  see  that  they  are  coming  into  order, 
with  which  they  seem  generally  well  pleased.  They 
depend  much  on  me.  I  expect  to  visit  them  again  in  the 
winter.  I  have  been  almost  every  day  among  the  sick  ; 
some  days  have  visited  more  than  a  dozen  families,  but 
never  enjoyed  better  health.  Sunday  coming  will  make 
three  Sabbaths  I  have  been  in  Lewisburg,  and  on  Mon- 
day or  Tuesday,  I  design  to  visit  Smithlield,  Bradford 
County,  Pa." 

June  the  20tli,  Mr.  Badger  oflBciated  as  Chairman 
of  the  New  York  Western  Conference,  at  which  time 
seven  new  churches  were  reported,  and  some  import- 
ant ideas  of  church  polity  were  discussed.  In  Au- 
gust of  this  year,  he  described  the  city  of  Rochester, 
then  a  town  of  3000  inhabitants,  connected  by  water 
communications  with  Albany  on  the  east,  Quebec  on 
the  north,  and  Lake  Superior  on  the  west.     He  speaks 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  253 

of  a  small  church  in  that  city,  with  whom  he  had 
labored  half  of  the  time  through  the  summer,  and  ex- 
presses the  hope  that  thej  will  accumulate  more 
strength  in  that  growing  town.  In  the  early  part  of 
August,  he  attended  a  general  meeting  at  Rochester, 
and,  in  the  same  month,  another  at  Cato,  Cayuga 
County,  N.  Y. 

Letters  from  diflferent  parts  of  the  country  show  the 
inclination  of  the  people  to  make  demands  on  his  pub- 
lic gifts  and  labors ;  and,  could  we  institute  a  close 
comparison  between  the  width  and  depth  of  the  inter- 
est called  out  by  the  great  public  meetings  of  those 
days,  and  of  similar  meetings  in  our  own  times,  we  are 
satisfied  that  the  preference  would  be  greatly  in  favor 
of  the  past.  They  were  more  in  numbers,  and  the 
religious  interest  was  more  general  and  intense.  At 
West  Bloomfield,  1822,  for  instance,  there  were  thirty- 
five  ministers  present  at  a  general  meeting,  and,  in 
those  days,  the  most  of  such  occasions  seemed  to  be  a 
centre  of  interest  for  a  wide  area  of  the  country. 


254  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

CORRESPONDENCE  —  VISITS  AT  ANGELICA  WITH  D.  D. 
HOW,  THE  MURDERER  —  HIS  SERMON  AT  THE  GAL- 
LOWS. 

From  the  extensive  correspondence  of  Mr.  Badger, 
little  at  present  can  be  introduced,  as  the  interest  of 
his  published  journal  and  things  relating  to  his  per- 
sonal life  and  public  labor  have  the  paramount  claim. 
Yet  the  freedom  in  which  a  large  variety  of  minds 
addressed  him  evinces  that  he  was  beloved  confidingly, 
as  well  as  respected  and  admired.  As  an  example  of 
the  free  expression  of  one  class  of  correspondents,  we 
may  take  the  following  lines,  dated  near  1824,  from 
the  pen  of  a  gentleman  of  the  medical  profession, 
Troy,  Pa. : 

"  I  think  I  informed  you  I  was  not  a  professor  of  reli- 
gion, though  I  have  a  friendly  regard  for  all  such  as  appear 
to  worship  God  in  a  rational  and  consistent  manner, 
whose  minds  have  not  been  circumscribed  by  undigested 
creeds  and  by  uncharitable  proscription.  I  have  read 
some  and  thought  much  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and 
after  all  I  confess  I  am  rather  skeptical.  I  have  endeav- 
ored to  view  it  abstractedly  by  the  lights  of  reason  and 
philosophy  ;  to  consider  what  it  is,  its  origin  and  design. 
To  sum  up  in  a  few  words,  if  I  may  be  allowed  the  ex- 
pression, I  should  consider  it  indispensably  necessary  to 
those  who  would  not  be  good  without  it.  Take  this 
away,  and  what  method  would  be  left  to  bring  the  mere 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  255 

child  of  nature  to  the  practice  of  virtue  ?  You  could  not 
discover  to  him  the  excellency  there  is  in  goodness,  and 
the  reward  which  it  brings.  His  imagination  needs  to  be 
awed  bj  the  penalty  annexed  to  vice.  It  may  seem  par- 
adoxical to  say  that  when  men  become  good  for  goodness' 
sake,  they  have  no  need  of  religion." 

Bold  thoughts  were  no  alarm  to  Mr.  Badger ;  and 
not  many  persons  had  his  faculty  for  taking  away 
effectually  the  objections  which  really  stood  in  the 
path  of  the  unbelieving,  though  in  doing  so  his  meth- 
ods were  his  own,  and  he  had  no  use  for  the  logical 
phrases  of  those  who  have  been  styled  apologists  for 
religion  or  Christianity.  In  looking  over  lines  like 
those  first  quoted,  is  it  not  impossible  to  repress  the 
sentiment,  that  "  he  who  becomes  good /or  goodness* 
sake,''^  instead  of  having  no  need  of  religion,  already 
has  it  in  its  highest  possible  form  ?  It  cannot  be  oth- 
erwise. 

1824  finds  Mr.  Badger  engaged  in  the  local  sphere 
of  pastor  ;  and,  among  the  solemn  and  responsible  du- 
ties of  his  profession  for  this  year,  was  that  of  hearing 
the  confession  of  a  murderer,  of  leading  his  mind  into 
faith  and  penitence,  of  administering  -to  the  bereaved 
families  the  consolations  of  Christian  views  and  sym- 
pathy, and  of  preaching  the  funeral  discourse  of  the 
prisoner  to  the  immense  concourse  who  witnessed  his 
execution.  At  that  time,  cool  and  deliberate  murders 
were  comparatively  rare  ;  generally,  there  was  great 
avidity  to  know  the  causes  and  incidents  involved  in 
the  crime.  The  surprise  and  dread  such  intelligence 
awakened  corresponded  somewhat  justly  with  the  awful 


256  MEMOIR    OF 

nature  of  the  guilt  which  caused  them.  David  D. 
How,  of  the  town  of  Angehca,  Alleghany  County,  New 
York,  a  few  miles  from  the  place  where  the  horrid 
murder  of  Mr.  Othello  Church  was  committed,  Decem- 
ber the  29th,  1823,  was  a  man  originally  from  New 
England,  and  of  respectable  connexions  ;  but,  from  a 
series  of  misfortunes  and  injuries  experienced  in  life, 
and  probably  also  from  the  peculiar  organic  defection 
which  the  organization  of  murderers  usually  exhibits, 
was  prepared,  though  not  without  a  violent  conflict  of 
inward  emotions,  to  execute  a  murder  of  revenge  on 
the  person  of  Mr.  Church,  whom  he  regarded  as  hav- 
ing been  instrumental  in  promoting  the  misfortunes 
that  left  him  destitute  of  property,  in  the  summer  of 
1823.  Several  angry  disputes  had  occurred  between 
them  ;  and,  judging  from  the  treatment  he  rendered  to 
Mr.  Palmer,  for  having,  as  he  thought,  taken  undue 
advantages  of  his  troubles,  one  is  willing  to  infer  that 
revenge  was  his  predominant  tendency. 

"I  went,"  says  he,  "  in  the  month  of  October,  toHorn- 
elsville,  and  being  detained  there  one  day,  I  had  occasion 
to  ride  in  the  evening  of  the  23d,  and  about  12  o'clock 
at  night  came  to  Mr.  Palmer's,  near  Angelica.  I  saw  his 
valuable  mills,  on  which  the  orbs  of  heaven  faintly  shone, 
and  the  sable  curtains  of  night  had  mantled  the  scenery 
in  majestic  grandeur.  J^ow,  I  said,  is  the  time  for  me  to 
have  vengeance  on  one  of  my  greatest  enemies  on  earth. 
I  dismounted  and  surveyed  the  scene  before  me.  Finding 
the  door  fast,  I  obtained  an  entrance  by  a  small  window 
which  I  could  raise  ;  I  entered  the  dark  cavity ;  all  was 
solitary  and  silent,  and  every  step  resounded  with  mid- 
night horror  ;  the  sweet  stream  uttered  its  innocent  murr 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  257 

mur  below,  and  all  nature  seemed  combined  to  reprove 
me  of  my  sin." 

Though  hesitating  for  a  moment,  a  brief  meditation, 
on  the  causes  of  offence  induced  him  to  turn  the  mills 
of  his  neighbor  into  a  scene  of  flames,  which,  to  use 
the  language  of  the  criminal,  "  shone  upon  the  heavens 
with  alarming  lustre "  to  his  "  guilty  conscience," 
before  he  arrived  at  home.  With  equal  determination, 
on  the  night  of  the  29th  of  December,  after  returning 
from  the  village  of  Angelica,  between  10  and  11 
o'clock,  at  a  season  when  the  condition  of  the  snow 
would  not  allow  him  to  be  tracked,  did  he  proceed  to 
execute  the  awful  deed  on  which  he  had  long  med- 
itated, the  murder,  in  his  own  house,  of  Othello  Church,* 
whom  he  called  from  his  slumbers  to  receive  the  fatal 
shot.  This  murderer  thought  and  reflected  on  his  end 
and  his  means.  Once  before,  he  had  waylaid  the  path 
of  his  victim,  and  watched  at  night,  with  rifle  in  hand, 
behind  the  great  pine  tree  ;  "  while  I  stood  here," 
said  Mr.  H.,  "  I  had  some  solemn  reflections.  The 
sweet  evening  breeze  gently  pressed  the  lo'fty  forest, 
and  the  tall  pines  could  bend  beneath  the  power  of 
heaven  ;  but  my  obdurate  heart  remained  unmoved." 
Such  was  the  character  of  the  man  whose  depths  of 
heart  were  moved  by  the  influences  of  Mr.  Badger. 
Though  a  murderer,  he  was  far,  very  far,  from  total 
depravity,  for  he  could  sincerely  mourn  over  his  own. 
guilt,  and  weep  over  his  beautiful  daughter  with  a 
father's  love.     He  was  tried  for  his  offence  at  Ano;el- 


*  Mr.  Church  lived  in  the  town  of  Friendship,  six  miles  west  from 
Mr.  How. 


258  MEMOIR    OP 

ica,  before  Judge  Rochester;  was,  by  the  force  of 
circumstantial  evidence,  declared  guilty,  and,  on  Feb- 
ruary 8th,  was  sentenced  to  be  hung  March  19th,  1824. 
By  the  request  of  Judge  Griffin,  "who  had  consulted 
the  prisoner,  Mr.  Badger  was  requested  to  attend  on 
Mr.  How,  and  to  do  what  he  could  in  preparing  his 
mind  for  the  awful  crisis  before  him ;  and,  as  these 
duties  are  a  part  of  his  journal  for  this  year,  we  will 
look  a  moment  longer  at  its  particulars. 

March  the  2d,  Mr.  Badger  took  rooms  at  Judge 
Dautremont's,  in  Angelica,  (a  place  Qo  miles  from  his 
residence,)  that  he  might  every  day  have  familiar 
access  to  the  mind  of  the  prisoner.  The  day  of  his 
arrival  he  entered  the  gloomy  apartment,  at  2  o'clock, 
P.  M.  found  Mr.  How  reading  the  Scriptures  by  can- 
dle light ;  soon  the  mind  of  the  guilty  stranger  unfolded 
freely  and  without  reserve,  to  him  who  now  endeavored 
to  render  assistance  in' making  his  peace  with  the  eter- 
nal powers.  A  chain-bound  prisoner  in  darkness, 
seeking  to  know  how  he  shall  whiten  his  spirit  froii! 
mortal  crime  !  A  herald  of  the  cross  genially  making 
him  feel  his  brotherhood  with  man,  and  bowing  with 
him  in  prayer  to  the  Infinite  Pacifier  !  A  scene  like 
this  in  a  world  of  sin  is  a  gleam  of  light  across  the 
ocean  of  darkness,  even  though  the  inveterate  past 
should  refuse  to  be  blotted  out  by  prayers  and  pen- 
ance. 

*'  In  conversation,"  said  Mr.  B.,  *'  he  is  pleasant,  famil- 
iar, easy  and  polite,  and  often  his  countenance  is  lighted 
up  by  an  artificial  smile.  He  is  a  man  of  quick  discern- 
ment, and  possesses  a  mind  of  unusual  strength  and  great 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  259 

composure  in  the  hour  of  trouble ;  yet  he  sometimes  weeps 
at  the  most  trifling  circumstances.  He  feels  great  attach- 
ment to  his  friends,  uncommon  fondness  for  his  children, 
and  an  ungovernable  hatred  to  his  enemies.  I  found  Mr. 
How  almost  in  a  despairing  state  of  mind.  He  asked  my 
opinion  of  1  John  3  :  15  :  '  No  murderer  hath  eternal  life 
abiding  in  him.'  I  informed  him  that  the  same  verse 
said  :  '  Whosoever  hateth  his  brother  is  a  murderer,'  and 
that  no  person  while  possessed  of  hatred,  or  in  the  act  of 
murder,  could  be  in  possession  of  eternal  life.  He-  wept 
at  my  remarks,  and  asked  many  questions.  I  informed 
him  *  all  manner  of  sin  should  be  forgiven  except  the  sin 
against  the  Holy  Ghost ;  *  and  I  endeavored  to  hold  up 
the  Avay  of  life  to  him.  "We  united  in  prayer  several 
times,  and  after  an  interview  of  six  hours  I  left  him  over- 
whelmed in  grief." 

"  March  3d,  entered  the  dungeon  at  8  o'clock,  A.  M., 
found  him  very  much  composed.  After  attending  prayers 
we  sung  two  hymns,  and  his  heart  was  apparently  filled 
with  love  to  all  the  creatures  of  God.  He  commenced 
speaking  in  the  most  affecting  language.  He  spoke  of 
the  sin  of  profanity  and  drinking,  described  the  murder 
of  Mr.  Church  in  the  most  affecting  manner,  and  mourned 
that  he  had  no  time  to  prepare  to  meet  his  God.  He  said 
he  could  not  think  that  God  would  forgive  him,  as  his 
sins  were  of  such  an  aggravated  nature,  and  were  com- 
mitted against  so  good  a  Being,  and  against  such  great 
light.  I  made  him  three  visits,  and  the  dungeon  became 
a  pleasant  place.  He  this  day  requested  me  to  write  his 
journal,  to  preach  at  his  execution,  and  superintend  his 
funeral." 

*'  March  4.  Spent  four  hours  in  my  first  visit,  found 
him  much  composed  and  well  resigned.  I  entreated  with 
the  sheriff  for  the  removal  of  his  irons,  and  succeeded,  for 
which  he  expressed  much  gratitude." 


260  MEMOIR    OP 

It  were  indeed  too  long  for  our  purpose  to  transcribe 
the  half  of  what  Mr.  Badger  has  interestingly  written 
on  this  topic.  His  duties  were  faithfully  and  ably 
done  ;  and,  what  might  be  anticipated,  he  gained,  and 
for  a  holy  purpose  ^  the  entire  mastery  of  the  murder- 
er's heart ;  turned  his  revengeful  passions,  for  the  time 
at  least,  into  prayerful  kindness  for  his  enemies,  and, 
through  his  free  choice,  became  the  agent  of  his  most 
sacred  trusts.  On  the  5th,  he  received  and  delivered 
to  Mrs.  Church  the  imploring  and  penitent  address  of 
Mr.  How  ;  also  visited  the  family  and  plantation  of  the 
murderer  ;  on  the  6th,  witnessed  the  interview  be- 
tween Mr.  How  and  his  own  family,  to  whom  he  ad- 
ministered appropriate  advice.  Through  all  his  doubts 
and  fears,  he  accompanied  the  spirit-wanderings  of  the 
culprit,  and  succeeded  in  bringing  his  mind  to  a  state 
in  which  he  was  conscious  that  an  eternal  sun  shone 
somewhat  brightly  through  the  cloud  openings  of  his 
dark  horizon. 

**  On  Sunday,  the  14th,  in  the  afternoon,"  says  Mr.  B., 
"  his  daughter,  a  beautiful  little  girl  about  19  years  of 
age,  arrived.  She  trembled  as  she  approached  the  gloomy 
apartment  of  her  father.  They  embraced  each  other 
with  great  affection,  and  all  the  spectators  wept.  He 
called  his  daughter  and  friends  to  view  the  coffin,  which, 
he  informed  her,  was  like  her  mother's.  They  wished 
me  to  pray  with  them ;  and,  at  the  close  of  prayer,  I 
found  the  father  and  daughter  leaning  upon  the  coffin, 
with  their  hands  joined  ;  he  exclaimed,  '  Oh,  my  Harriet ! 
must  we  part?  You  are  the  image  of  your  excellent 
mother  —  you  have  derived  your  good  disposition  and  all 
your  good  qualities  from  her.     You  have  nothing  good 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  261 

from  me.'  They  both  wept  aloud,  and  every  heart  seemed 
to  be  moved  with  grief.  On  the  15th  I  witnessed  a  recon- 
ciling interview  between  Mr.  How,  Mr.  Palmer,  and 
Sheriff  Wilson,  men  of  business  who  had  once  been  great 
friends,  but  whose  friendship  had  been  broken  by  serious 
difficulties." 

"  March  the  18th.  He  sent  for  me  at  daybreak.  I 
found  he  had  a  restless  night,  and  was  in  great  distress.  I 
made  him  several  visits ;  his  family  came  to  take  their 
leave  of  him  forever.  At  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Roach,  a  Methodist  minister,  preached  a  short  discourse 
in  the  dungeon  from  John  3:16.  Five  clergymen  were 
present,  and  the  scene  was  solemn.  Mr.  How  took  the 
lead  in  singing  two  hymns,  and  carried  his  part  through  in 
a  graceful  manner.  In  singing  the  first,  he  stood  up  and 
leaned  partly  on  the  stove  ;  held  his  little  girl  by  one  hand, 
who  sat  in  the  lap  of  her  mother,  and  with  the  other  he 
took  the  hand  of  his  affectionate  brother,  who  stood  by  his 
side.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  his  wife  gave  him  her 
hand  for  the  last  time.  He  embraced  her  with  fondness, 
and  when  he  pressed  his  little  girl  to  his  bosom  (about 
four  years  of  age)  he  wept  aloud.  He  requested  that 
several  Christian  friends  should  spend  the  night  with  him 
in  prayer ;  thus  his  last  night  on  earth  was  spent  in  im- 
ploring God  for  grace  and  mercy." 

"March  the  19th.  I  entered  the  prison  at  break  of 
day,  found  him  much  resigned.  He  observed,  as  I  entered, 
that  his  last  night  on  earth  was  gone,  which  he  had  spent 
in  prayer.  At  7  o'clock  I  visited  him  again  with  a  com- 
pany of  ladies  who  had  never  seen  him.  Mrs.  Richards, 
of  Dansville,  took  him  by  the  hand,  both  fell  upon  their 
knees,  and  she  prayed  for  him  in  the  most  fervent  manner. 
He  then  prayed  for  himself,  for  his  family,  for  the  family 
of  Mrs.  Church,  who  were  afflicted  by  him,  for  his  execu- 


262  MEMOIR   OF 

tioner,  and  all  the  world.  As  we  came  out,  a  gentleman 
remarked  that  he  had  never  heard  a  man  pray  like  him. 
At  9,  I  entered  his  apartment  for  the  last  time,  accom- 
panied by  his  beloved  daughter  and  a  young  man  who  was 
soon  to  become  her  husband.  We  entered  with  serious 
hearts  ;  he  received  them  very  pleasantly,  and  made  re- 
marks to  me  on  the  fine  weather,  and  the  lady  who  had 
prayed  with  him.  He  asked  of  me  the  privilege  of  walk- 
ing into  the  yard  with  the  young  man.  They  spent  a 
short  time  together.  He  then  asked  me  to  wait  on 
Harriet  to  the  door.  He  placed  her  by  the  side  of  the 
young  man,  and  delivered  her  to  his  charge,  saying  that 
she  had  long  been  deprived  of  the  counsels  of  a  mother,* 
and  would  be  in  a  few  moments  separated  from  her  father 
forever.  '  I  now  commit  her  to  you  as  a  friend,  protector, 
and  lover.' " 

For  Mr.  H.  there  was  much  public  sympathy,  owing 
to  the  belief  that  he  had  suffered  many  provoking 
^yrongs.  Passages  like  these  have  a  moral,  and  even 
philosophical  value,  in  showing  that  the  human  spirit 
is  not  exhausted  of  wealth,  no,  not  even  by  capital 
offence  ;  that  great  sentiments  of  manliness  may  tem- 
porarily occupy  an  invisible  throne  within,  though 
clouded  and  veiled  from  general  recognition. 

On  the  19th,  in  the  presence  of  six  thousand  per- 
sons, Mr.  How  was  executed,  to  which  immense  throng 
Mr.  Badger  preached  a  sermon  of  thirty  minutes,  from 
Numbers  35  :  33,  which  we  have  heard  spoken  of  as 
a  masterly  effort.  With  all  his  feeling  for  the  offend- 
ing, he  had  no  morbid  sympathies  to  pour  out  on  the 
injustice  of  his  punishment ;  he  spoke  of  the  propriety 

*  Iler  mother,  Mr.  How's  first  wife,  died  1816. 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  263 

and  the  majesty  of  the  law ;  of  the  necessity  of  cleans- 
ing the  land  of  murderous  Crimes  ;  alleging  that,  while 
government  exists,  its  principles  must  be  faithfully 
carried  into  action ;  that  the  officers  who,  in  their  dif- 
ferent official  capacities,  executed  this  solemn  law, 
were  as  much  in  the  way  of  their  duty  as  he  who  tills 
the  soil,  and  supports  the  government  by  his  labor. 
Mr.  Badger  was  no  ultraist.  He  held  that  this  world, 
on  which  golden  sunlight  is  scattered,  was  not  made 
for  rascals  ;  nor  did  he  accuse  the  world  of  ignorance 
when  the  deliberate  murderer  died  for  his  crime.  In 
these  quoted  paragraphs,  we  see  how  Mr.  B.  passed 
the  larger  part  of  a  month  in  the  spring  of  1824  ;  and 
though  the  acrimony  which  attaches  to  religious  sects 
was  industrious  in  the  misrepresentation  of  his  theologi- 
cal sentiments,  he  cleared  himself  triumphantly  of  all 
their  charges,  and  came  off  with  the  decided  approba- 
tion of  the  judges,  officers,  and  indeed  of  all  the  lead- 
ing men  whose  acquaintance  he  had  formed,  for  the 
able  and  faithful  manner  in  which  he  had  performed 
his  high  duties,  and  for  the  proper  course  he  had  pur- 
sued both  as  a  gentleman  and  a  minister. 


264  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

JOURNEY   TO    THE    SOUTH. — PUBLISHED   JOURNAL. 

The  summer  of  this  year,  Mr.  Badger  seriously  con- 
templated a  voyage  to  England,  chiefly  for  the  pur- 
pose of  promoting  a  union  between  a  denomination 
called  the  "  General  Baptists,"  and  the  "  Christian 
Connection  "  of  this  country,  as  that  denomination  had 
already  heard  of,  and  expressed  an  interest  in,  their 
transatlantic  brethren  of  the  Ncav  World  ;  but  other 
and  urgent  duties  directed  his  energies  in  a  diSerent 
channel.  By  the  Western  Conference  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  preside  at  six  general  meetings  in  different 
sections  of  the  country,  requiring  him  to  travel  nearly 
a  thousand  miles  in  all,  for  the  completion  of  the  task ; 
and,  at  the  meeting  of  the  United  States  Annual  Con- 
ference, he  was,  in  accordance  with  the  appointment 
made  by  the  New  York  Western  Conference,  com- 
mended as  an  evangelist  to  visit  the  southern  States, 
to  obtain  a  history  of  the  people  there  who  had  thrown 
off  the  authority  of  creeds,  and  gone  to  God  and  their 
Bibles  for  the  all-sufficient  light ;  also  to  open  between 
them  and  their  brethren  of  the  northern  and  middle 
States  a  correspondence  that  should  promote  future 
union  and  cooperation  in  -the  spread  of  their  common 
faith,  a  purpose  which  had  the  warmest  sanction  of  the 
north,  and  which  met  with  a  generous  response  in  the 
south. 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  265 

His  evangelizing  ministry  through  the  summer  was 
attended  with  good  results  ;  and  shortly  after  the  Gen- 
eral Conference,  held  at  Beekman,  Dutchess  county, 
N.  Y.,  September  2,  1824,  he,  in  company  with  Rev. 
Simon  Clougli,  of  Boston,  started  for  the  city  of  New 
York,  passing  through  Putnam, and  Westchester  coun- 
ties, where  thej  held  many  meetings.  On  the  15th, 
they  arrived  at  New  York.  In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Silsby, 
of  Rochester,  he  says  :  — 

**  We  found  a  Baptist  and  a  Universalist  meeting-house 
open  for  us.  The  attention  of  the  people  was  great  to 
hear,  and  the  ministers  treated  us  with  attention  and  re- 
spect. We  are  now  invited  to  another  Baptist  meeting- 
house, and  have  engaged  to  give  them  two  sermons  next 
Sabbath.  Last  Sunday  I  preached  in  the  State  Prison 
to  more  than  five  hundred  prisoners,  and  it  was  a  solemn 
and  a  weeping  time.  I  shall  visit  them  again.  In  the 
evening  I  spoke  to  about  one  thousand  people  at  the  Bap- 
tist Church.  The  young  people  seemed  to  be  deeply 
affected,  and  some  of  the  aged  saints  rejoiced  and  said  it 
was  truth.  I  enj(^y  myself  well  in  this  city,  being  sensible 
that  I  am  in  the  way  of  my  duty.  Last  evening  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  renowned  La  Fayette,  who  is 
on  his  way  to  the  South.  He  is  worthy  of  all  honor, 
though  like  others,  he  is  a  frail,  dying,  mortal  man."* 

He  passed  three  weeks  in  the  city,  preached  several 
sermons,  baptized  a  few  happy  converts,  and  on  the 
8th  of  October,  arrived  at  his  home  in  Mendon.  On 
this  tour,  Mr.  Badger  used  his  influence  in  favor  of  the 

*  The  La  Fayette  Ball  given  at  that  time,  he  says,  cost  ^100,000  ; 
and  about  12,000  persons  were  said  to  have  been  present. 

12 


26G  MEMOIR    OF 

establishment  of  a  new  montlilj  periodical  at  West 
Bloomfield,  New  York,  which  commenced  January  1, 
1825,  under  the  editorial  direction  of  Rev.  D.  Millard, 
and  entitled  the  ''  Gospel  Luminary."  These  sermons, 
from  Messrs.  Clough  and  Badger,  were  the  first,  I 
believe,  ever  given  in  that  city  under  the  simj^le  name 
of  Christian,  with  the  exception  of  the  labors  of  Doc- 
tor Joseph  Hall,  who  had  a  few  months  preceded  them. 
Soon  after,  the  gifted  Miss  Rexford,  and  Mrs.  Abigail 
Roberts,  whose  labors  in  many  places  had  been  suc- 
cessful, held  meetings  in  that  metropolis,  and  as  early 
as  January,  1825,  we  hear  of  Mr.  Clough  laboring 
to  plant  the  standard  of  a  liberal  evangelical  Chris- 
tianity in  that  community. 

Mr.  Badger's  journey  was  deferred  till  the  late 
autumnal  months  of  1825,  as  he  chose  not  to  venture 
so  great  a  change  of  climate  in  the  warmer  seasons ; 
home  duties  also  prevented  an  immediate  execution 
of  his  plan.  On  the  19th  December,  1824,  he 
preached  twice  in  Chili,  a  town  not  far  from  Rochester, 
where  the  labors  of  Mr.  Silsby  had  been  effectual  in 
the  conversion  of  souls  ;  also  in  Clarkson,  Perinton, 
Gains,  and  Royalton,  he  preached,  witnessing  some 
cheerinn;  si^-ns  of  the  Sacred  Presence.  The  first 
week  after  his  arrival  at  Royalton  he  attended  twelve 
meetings. 

"  In  the  second  meeting,"  he  says,  *'  I  saw  two  young 
ladies  who  appeared  much  disposed  to  vanity  and  oppo- 
sition, but  at  the  close  one  of  them  requested  prayers,  and 
within  one  week  both  became  happy  converts,  and  have 
since  been  baptized.    From  this  occurrence  the  work  began 


REV.    JOSEPH  BADGER.  267 

rapidly  among  the  j^outh.  About  a  dozen  have  been  hope- 
fully converted,  and  a  great  number  more  are  now  under 
serious  conviction.  Dilficulties  have  healed  by  the  power 
of  God,  and  backsliders  have  returned  with  confessions, 
repentance,  and  tears.  I  have  been  surprised  during  this 
revival  to  find  popular  professors  of  religion  its  worst 
enemies.  What  a  shocking  inconsistency  it  is  for  people 
to  pray  for  reformation  in  foreign  countries,  and  fight  the 
work  of  God  at  their  own  doors  ;  to  bestow  their  funds 
for  the  conversion  of  the  heathen,  and  live  and  act  worse 
than  heathens  themselves.  In  the  present  age,  the  oppo- 
sition of  the  infidel,  drunkard  and  profane,  is  modest  when 
compared  with  the  wrath  and  vengeance  of  popular  pro- 
fessors." 

He  speaks  of  He  v.  Asa  C.  Morrison  as  greatly 
successful  in  Salem,  Oliio ;  of  Elder  Blodgct,  as  hav- 
ing witnessed  a  large  revival  during  his  three  months' 
sojourn  in  the  Province  of  Upper  Canada.  "  I  have 
found  it  duty  on  many  accounts,"  he  adds,  "  to  ad- 
journ my  southern  journey  till  next  fall."  In  Royal- 
ton,  he  continued  to  remain,  where,  assisted  for  about 
three  weeks  by  the  labors  of  Elder  Levi  Hathaway, 
he  saw  many  converted.  Writing  from  that  place,  he 
says  :  — 

"  The  first  day  of  the  present  year  was  a  precious  time 
to  us  at  Royalton.  I  gave  a  sermon  appropriate  to  the 
occasion ;  the  number  and  attention  were  great,  and  the 
saints  had  a  satisfactory  evidence  that  the  Lord  was  about 
to  revive  his  work,  and  many  spoke  in  a  feeling  manner. 
Several  young  people  requested  prayers,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  meeting  I  requested  all  who  would  covenant  together 
and  live  anew  for  God  the  present  year  and  pray  for  each 


2G8  MEMOIR    OF 

other  fervently,  to  come  forward  and  join  hands  ;  about 
forty  came  with  melting  hearts.  I  then  called  for  those 
who  were  resolved  to  set  out  the  present  year  to  seek 
salvation,  to  come  into  the  circle  and  kneel ;  I  think  five 
came  forward.  We  had  a  solemn  and  glorious  time  in 
prayer,  and  felt  the  sweetest  influence  of  the  Good  Spirit 
while  we  sang, 

"  '  From  whence  doth  this  union  arise, 
That  hatred  is  conquered  by  love  ?  '  " 

"  By  request  of  Mrs.  Wiley  (a  woman  in  the  last  stage 
of  consumption,  but  recently  converted),  I  preached  two 
sermons  in  her  room.  The  season  was  solemn  and  glorious. 
Many  spoke,  and  she  declared  that  she  could  now  rely  on 
the  promises,  and  trust  in  the  Great  Redeemer.  As  she 
drew  near  her  end,  her  faith  grew  stronger.  Just  before 
she  expired  her  husband  heard  her  whisper  ;  he  asked  her 
what  she  said,  to  which  she  pleasantly  replied,  'I  was  not 
speaking  to  you  ;  I  was  talking  with  my  God.'  Oh,  how 
triumphant  was  the  death  of  this  good  woman,  and  with 
what  solemn  pleasure  could  we  follow  her  to  the  grave  ! 
It  is  far  more  pleasant  to  me  to  preach  at  funerals  of 
converts  than  to  have  them  live  and  backslide  from  God, 
and  wound  the  precious  cause." 

"  On  the  third  day  of  February  we  met  for  the  organi- 
zation of  a  religious  society  according  to  law  ;  at  the  close 
of  the  business,  a  young  man  who  sat  on  the  back  seat 
sent  for  me  to  come  to  him  ;  he  had  many  days  been  under 
serious  conviction.  He  said  that  he  should  like  to  speak 
if  there  was  liberty.  He  then  arose  and,  told  what  God 
had  done  for  his  soul.  February  20  was  a  day  of  the 
Mediator's  power ;  ^the  congregation  was  large,  solemn 
and  attentive.  At  the  close  we  repaired  to  the  water, 
which  is  but  a  short  distance  from  our  meeting-house, 
where  I  baptized  the  bodies  of  twelve  happy  souls.     I  led 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  269 

into  the  water  at  once  six  young  men  ;  and  when  I  liad 
baptized  ten,  a  young  man  who  had  not  come  forward, 
passed  through  the  crowd  and  proposed  to  his  wife  to  join 
him  ;  they  took  each  other  by  the  hand  and  came  into  the 
water  together.  This  was  one  of  the  most  pleasant  scenes 
I  ever  saw.  The  saints  praised  their  God  aloud,  and 
many  of  the  congregation  wept." 

Sometimes  it  has  been  customary  among  sects  to 
measure  the  power  of  a  religious  fixith  by  the  strength 
and  joy  it  imparts  in  the  dying  hour,  which  certainly 
is  bringing  the  reality  to  a  solemn  test.  Judging  by 
this  standard,  and  from  almost  innumerable  instances, 
the  faith  inspired  by  the  labors  of  Mr.  B.  and  his 
associates  was  a  strong  spiritual  power,  holding  the 
element  of  triumph  in  the  last,  low  hour ;  for  not  un- 
frequently  did  the  departing  spirit  rise  to  a  calm  and 
joyful  enthusiasm  as  the  rays  of  the  eternal  morning 
began  to  fall  upon  their  inward  vision. 

June  1825  finds  Mr.  Badger  actively  engaged  in 
organizing  a  plan  for  an  evangelizing  ministry,  an  idea 
he  had  previously  recommended  in  his  correspond- 
ence, and  in  his  address  to  the  Conference,  as  the 
best  means,  at  that  time,  for  promoting  the  life  and 
success  of  the  churches.  A  full  report  was  made  on 
his  suggestion,  and  with  his  assistance  such  a  ministry 
was  appointed  for  the  year,  of  which  he  was,  with  four 
others,  a  member.  Perhaps  an  extract  from  this 
address,  delivered  at  Byron,  Genesee  County,  N.  Y., 
June  24,  may  more  perfectly  give  his  views. 

*'  Furthermore,  my  brethren,  to  facilitate  the  union  and 
prosperity  of  this  Conference,  let  every  church  within  its 


270  MEMOIR  or 

boundaries  be  advised  to  represent  themselves  by  delegates 
and  form  a  part  of  the  Conference.  Let  every  church  be 
considered  as  under  the  care  of  individual  ministers  whom 
they  may  elect,  or  under  the  care  of  a  travelling  ministry 
which  may  be  organized  by  this  Conference.  I  here  call 
your  attention  to  a  subject  of  the  first  magnitude.  On  a 
travelling  connection,  in  my  opinion,  much  is  depending; 
and  indeed  I  see  no  other  way  for  our  numerous  vacant 
congregations  to  be  supplied.  Then  as  many  preachers  as 
feel  it  to  be  their  duty  to  devote  their  whole  time  to  travel- 
ling must  be  sanctioned  by  this  body,  and  divide  themselves 
into  districts  or  circuits,  as  will  best  commode  the  local 
state  of  the  churches.  Their  support  must  be  received  if 
possible  from  the  congregations  of  their  care  ;  if  not,  a 
Conference  Fund  must  supply  them,  that  they  be  per- 
fectly independent  and  devoted  to  their  work.  By  this 
method,  poor  as  well  as  wealthy  congregations  will  have  a 
stated  ministry.  But  be  assured  that  the  organization  of 
a  Conference  Fund  will  be  the  mainspring  to  give  energy 
to  the  whole  plan,  without  which  all  our  calculations  are 
but  castles  in  the  air." 

Whilst  wc  have  this  excellent  address  in  band  we 
cannot  dismiss  it  without  quoting  a  few  more  lines,  par- 
ticularly as  they  show  the  views  and  state  of  things  at 
tbat  time.     lie  begins  thus :  — 

^*  My  Fathers  and  Brethren  in  the  Ministry  :  I  con- 
sider myself  highly  honored  to  be  called  to  speak  in  this 
meeting  of  delegates  and  ministers,  which  I  deem  one  of 
the  most  enlightened  bodies  of  men  on  earth.  When  I  re- 
flect on  the  name  you  espouse,  the  sound  doctrine  you  in- 
culcate, the  Christian  liberty  you  enjoy,  and  the  reforma- 
tions that  have  everywhere  attended  you  for  twenty  years 


REV.   JOSErH   BADGER.  271 

past,  I  am  justified  in  the  sight  of  God  and  men  in 
congratulating  you  as  a  favored  and  an  enh"ghtened 
people." 

"Though  you  have  been  called  to  face  the  storm  of  per- 
secution in  every  step  you  have  taken ;  though  many  of 
you  have  sacrificed  both  property  and  health  for  the  cause, 
you  have  the  pleasure  of  reflecting  that  your  labors  have 
not  been  unsuccessful,  and  that  the  cause  in  -which  you 
suffer  is  good,  and  will  eventually  triumph  over  everything 
unlike  to  God.  The  persecution  you  experience,  I  consider 
a  clear  evidence  that  you  are  the  people  of  God,  and  are 
useful  to  his  cause.  When  the  time  comes  that  we  bear 
no  decided  testimony  against  error  and  sin,  then  there  will 
be  no  reformation  to  attend  our  labors,  and  no  persecution 
will  be  seen.  But  I  pray  God  that  such  a  time  may  never 
come." 

"  You  take  the  Holy  Scriptures  for  your  rule  of  faith 
and  practice.  This  is  all  sufficient,  and  far  preferable  to 
the  numerous  law-hoohs  which  designing  creed-makers 
have  imposed  on  the  disciples  of  Christ.  You  reject  all 
party  names,  and  take  upon  yourselves  the  name  given  by 
Christ  to  his  disciples  in  the  New  Testament.  This  is 
highly  commendable,  and  if  we  are  Christians  in  7iame, 
spirit,  and  practice,  we  are  what  we  should  be,  and  what 
all  denominations  profess  to  be." 

**  Your  church  government  establishes  liberty  and  equal- 
ity through  all  the  flock  of  God.  Every  church  has  an 
equal  right  to  a  voice  in  this  body.  Here  ministers  and 
people  stand  upon  the  level,  and  there  is  none  to  lord  it 
over  God's  heritage.  We  here  confer  on  the  welfare  and 
prosperity  of  the  whole,  and  take  sweet  counsel  together.  I 
consider  your  dissent  from  several  popular  errors  as  a  great 
virtue ;  though  it  exposes  you  to  much  persecution,  it  w^ill 
lay  the  foundation  for  your  prosperity.     In  government 


272  MEMOIR    OF 

you  discard  all  monarchy  and  aristocracy,  wliicL  princi- 
ples have  been  the  ruin  and  overthrow  of  many  sects  and 
kingdoms.  In  theology  you  dissent  from  the  cold  and 
chilling  doctrines  of  Calvinism.  You  reject  the  mysterious 
doctrine  of  the  Trinity  as  inconsistent.  This  is  a  bold  step, 
yet  your  ground  is  tenable,  and  it  defies  the  assault  of  the 
most  learned.  The  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  which  has 
kindled  such  deplorable  contentions  throughout  the  Chris- 
tian world,  is  of  human  origin,  and  was  brought  into  the 
Church  in  the  fourth  century.  There  is  no  sentiment  in 
theology  more  contested  than  it.  In  Europe  the  contro- 
versy is  conducted  with  great  ability,  but  the  Unitarian 
cause  is  fast  gaining.  In  England,  four  hundred  congi'e- 
gations  have  rejected  it ;  in  America,  several  colleges  and 
many  of  the  principal  men  of  the  Union  have  discarded  it. 
I  am  informed  tliat  tlie  Hon.  John  Quincy  Adams,  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  is  a  bold  Unitarian,  and 
is  valiant  for  the  truth.  In  this  country,  the  alarm  whicb 
Trinitarians  manifest,  the  precaution  they  take,  and  the 
combination  of  different  sects  on  this  subject,  are  sure  proof 
of  the  weakness  of  their  cause,  and  though  Ave  now  hear 
the  crj  from  every  Trinitarian  church  in  the  land,  '  Great 
is  Diana,'  'Great  is  Diana,'  be  assured  that  her  temple 
totters,  her  pillars  are  shattered,  and  this  idol  must,  ere 
long,  fall  like  Dagon  before  the  Ark  of  God.  It  lays  the 
foundation  of  Deism,  is  the  first  argument  of  the  Jew,  the 
Pagan,  the  Mohammedan  and  the  Infidel  against  the  Chris- 
tian religion." 

*'A  cold,  formal,  spiritless  worship  must  also  be  rejected. 
A  fashionable  conformity  to  anti-Christian  practices  would 
give  us  the  applause  of  men,  but  not  the  approbation  of  God 
and  our  own  consciences.  Let  that  preaching  which  is  the 
most  spiritual  receive  your  most  cordial  approbation,  and 
let  the  saints  in  all  our  congregations  be  encouraged  to 
improve  their  gifts." 


REV.   JOSEPn    BADGER.  273 

**  It  will  also  be  well  to  keep  up  a  friendly  correspond- 
ence with  other  Conferences.  For  this  purpose,  let  our 
clerk  be  instructed  to  officiate  as  corresponding  secretary, 
that  we  may  act  in  the  light  of  the  whole  body.  As  we 
are  more  nearly  allied  to  the  Eastern  Conference  in  this 
State  than  to  any  other,  I  recommend  to  have  one  delegate 
appointed  every  year  to  sit  with  them,  that  our  business 
may  be  conducted  in  harmony.  As  our  churches  are  ex- 
tending to  Georgia  on  the  South,  to  Maine  on  the  East, 
and  to  Canada  on  the  North,  it  must  always  keep  this 
State  as  the  centre  of  the  connection,  and  we  have  grounds 
to  anticipate  much  from  a  correspondence  between  our 
brethren  of  the  North  and  the  South.  There  are  now 
about  one  hundred  ministers  in  the  Eastern  and  West- 
ern Conferences ;  but  when  I  came  into  this  country 
ciglifc  years  ago,  there  was  not  over  ten  or  twelve  free 
preachers  in  the  State,  and  many  of  our  present  number 
were  then  strangers  to  God.  We  now  have  nine  or  ten 
convenient  meeting-houses  built  by  our  own  people,  besides 
many  others  which  have  become  free.  Three  temples  of 
worship  at  least  are  being  built  this  year  within  the  bounds 
of  these  Conferences  ;  one  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
where  Simon  Clough  is  laboring  with  success  ;  one  at 
Bloomfield,  one  at  Salem,  Ohio,  and  several  congregations 
are  preparing  to  build  another  year.  Although  we  have 
witnessed  so  much  prosperity,  our  work  is  just  begun. 
Never  did  we  witness  such  a  time  as  the  present.  The 
cry,  *  Come  over  and  help  us,'  is  now  heard  from  all  parts, 
and  did  you,  my  brethren,  ever  witness  such  throngs  to 
attend  upon  your  ministry  as  now  ?  Did  you  ever  know 
such  a  general  inquiry  for  light  and  liberty  ?  Truly  the 
fields  are  all  white  and  ready  to  harvest.  My  aged  breth- 
ren, as  you  look  upon  the  young  men  by  your  side  who 
have  devoted  their  juvenile  years  to  God,  and  have  just 
12* 


274  MEMOIR   OF 

entered  upon  the  great  and  arduous  duties  of  the  ministry, 
let  every  power  within  you  rejoice  that  you  have  lived  to 
see  this  good  day,  that  you  behold  the  evidence  that  the 
ranks  will  yet  be  filled,  when  you  and  I  shall  sleep  in  death. 
And  you,  my  young  brethren,  look  upon  your  fathers  in  the 
ministry,  who  have  spent  their  time,  property,  and  health 
in  publishing  salvation  to  sinners  ;  view  with  reverence 
those  venerable  heads  which  have  become  hoary  in  the 
way  of  righteousness,  and  be  stimulated  by  their  example 
to  end  your  days  in  honor  of  the  sacred  cause  you  have 
espoused.  May  you  have  many  souls  as  the  seals  of  your 
ministry,  and  hereafter  shine  as  stars  of  the  firmament  for- 
ever and  ever ! " 

Immediately  Mr.  Badger  began  to  fulfil  his  part  of 
the  duties  devolving  on  the  newly  appointed  ministry. 
Between  July  13th  and  August  9th,  he  travelled  four 
hundred  and  sixty-five  miles,  preached  twenty-one 
sermons,  and  baptized  thirteen  persons  ;  between 
August  12th  and  31st,  he  journeyed  three  hundred 
and  fift3^-seven  miles,  attended  twenty-one  meetings, 
preached  at  Covington,  N.  Y.,  at  the  ordination  of 
Rev.  Elisha  Beardsley,  on  the  21st,  from  Rev.  10  : 
10 ;  and  from  this  period  to  September  the  21th,  the 
time  of  his  departure  for  his  western  and  southern 
tour,  the  days  and  evenings  were  industriously  used 
in  his  mission,  completing  in  all  nine  hundred  and 
sixty-six  miles  from  July  13tli.  As  Mr.  Badger  pub- 
lished hasty  sketches  of  his  tour  from  this  time,  in  the 
"  Gospel  Luminary,"  I  shall  occasionally  quote  his 
printed  paragraphs.  He  heads  his  notes  of  travel 
with  the  scripture  injunction,  "(ra^/i^r  up  the  frag- 
ments that  nothing  he  lost,^^  and  with  a  rapidity  that 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  275 

neither  knew  nor  cared  for  elaboration,  he  threw  off 
the  descriptions  of  the  scenes  and  events  that  lay  in 
his  way.  Also  two  or  three  small  blank  books  ac- 
curately narrate  every  mile  he  travelled,  every  town 
he  entered,  every  sermon  he  preached,  and  every  far- 
thing he  expended.  Such  was  his  accustomed  order. 
These  memorandums  are  sometimes  prefaced  with 
significant  mottoes  ;  on  one  is  the  text,  '^Keep  thyself 
piire;^^  on  another,  and  perhaps,  indicative  of  the 
rough  and  various  treatment  the  traveUing  missiona- 
ry is  sometimes  hable  to  receive,  are  the  words  of 
Johnson :  — 

"  Of  all  the  griefs  that  harass  the  distressed, 
Sure  the  most  bitter  is  the  scornful  jest ; 
Fate  never  wounds  more  deep  the  generous  heart, 
Than  when  the  blockhead's  insult  points  the  dart." 

Also  from  Gray  :  — 

*'  He  gave  to  misery  all  he  had,  a  tear, 
He  gained  from  heaven  ('twas  all  he  wished)  a  friend." 

"  Studious  alone  to  learn  whate'er  may  tend 
To  raise  the  genius  or  the  heart  amend." 

Narrating  his  course  to  the  readers  of  the  Lumina- 
ry, he  says :  — 

*'  I  left  home  September  24,  accompanied  by  my  wife, 
Mr.  Chapin,  and  several  other  friends,  for  the  general 
meeting  at  Chili,  where  we  arrived  in  the  evening.  Here 
I  met  eight  of  my  brethren  in  the  ministry.  Our  inter- 
view was  agreeably  interesting,  and  the  parting  to  me 
uncommonly  solemn.  The  general  meeting,  so  far  as  I 
could  discern,  was  very  satisfactory.  The  assembly  was 
large,  solemn,  and  attentive ;  the  preaching  was  power- 


276  MEMOIR   OF 

ful  and  interesting,  and  the  accommodations  good.  "We 
leave  the  event  with  God.  On  our  way  to  Royalton,  I 
preached  once  in  Clarkson,  and  once  in  Gaines.  At  Roy- 
alton, I  met  thirteen  ministers  of  the  everlasting  Gospel, 
all  of  whom  appeared  to  have  the  good  of  souls  at  heart, 
and  love  to  the  great  and  honorable  work  in  which  they 
were  engaged.  Brothers  Church,  Chapin,  Beardsley, 
Shaw,  Hathaway,  Whitcomb,  Blodget  and  Hamilton, 
all  spoke  to  good  satisfaction,  and  the  multitude  could 
say,  our  place  was  no  less  than  the  house  of  God,  and 
the  very  gate  of  heaven.  In  conference,  we  received 
Francis  Hamilton  as  a  fellow-laborer.  He  gave  two 
appropriate  discourses,  and  I  hope  will  be  useful  among 
us." 

"  October  3,  our  company,  consisting  of  twelve  per- 
sons, visited  Niagara  Falls,  to  view  the  stupendous  and 
sublime  works  of  nature.  "We  lodged  four  or  five  miles 
up  the  river  from  the  Falls.  On  walking  out  in  the  even- 
ing, the  scene  was  peculiarly  grand.  While  nature 
around  was  hushed,  the  never-ceasing  roar  of  the  stu- 
pendous cataract  brought  to  my  mind  important  reflec- 
tions on  several  passages  of  Scripture.  The  next  day, 
visited  Black  Rock  and  Buffalo ;  at  twelve,  the  solemn, 
memorable  hour  arrived  when  our  little  company  must  be 
separated.  Language  is  too  poor  to  describe  my  feelings 
as  I  gave  my  wife,  and  six  young  people  who  were  to 
accompany  her  return,  the  parting  hand.  Every  heart 
felt  more  than  words  express ;  but,  as  all  the  company 
■have  lively  hopes  of  immortality,  we  can  look  forward  to 
a  world  where  parting  can  never  come. 

'  How  soothing  is  the  thought,  and  sweet! 
But  for  a  while  we  bid  adieu  ; 
With  welcome  smiles  again  to  meet, 
And  all  our  social  joys  renew.' 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  277 

"  Our  company  now  consists  of  five,  L.  Hathaway  and 
wife,  Jesse  E.  Church,  and  Asa  Chapin.  The  two  last 
are  valuable  young  men,  and  bid  fair  to  be  useful  in  the 
great  work  of  the  ministry." 

From  Buffalo,  Mr.  Badger  and  his  company  pro- 
ceeded along  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  following  a 
lonesome  road  to  the  town  of  Pomfret,  Chautaque 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  commenced  a  general  meet- 
ing, October  8  ;  nine  clergymen  were  in  attendance, 
and  mucli  good  influence  was  manifest. 

Writing  from  Mt.  Vernon,  Knox  County,  Ohio, 
under  date  of  October  31, 1825,  he  says  :  — 

**  In  Chautaquc  County,  I  was  delighted  with  three 
curiosities  in  nature.  1.  A  small  spring*  is  found  in 
Fredonia,  which  affords  a  sufficient  quantity  of  gas  to 
light  the  whole  village  with  very  little  expense.  It  is 
delightful  to  see,  in  a  land  which,  a  few  years  ago,  was  a 
wilderness,  nature  and  art  majestically  united.  2.  A 
larger  growth  of  timber  is  found  here  than  I  have  ever 
seen  before.  I  saw  the  stump  of  a  tree,  on  which  I  was 
informed  that  sixteen  men  had  stood  at  once.  We  meas- 
ured a  chestnut  tree  which  was  dry,  and  had  lost  its  bark ; 
three  feet  from  the  ground,  it  was  nine  feet  and  five 
inches  through.  3.  I  was  made  acquainted  with  a  young 
lady  who  is  remarkably  gifted  in  poetry.  A  few  years 
since,  Joseph  Baily  found  her  in  a  poor  log-hut,  portray- 
ing her  charming  effusions  on  the  margins  of  old  news- 
papers. On  his  stating  the  subject  to  some  Christian 
friends,  they  sent  her  a  quire  of  paper,  which  she  wrote 
over  in  a  short  time,  and  returned  it,  to  their  admiration 

*  Thi3  spring  emits  carbureted  hydrogen  gas.  It  has  not  only 
lighted  the  apartments  of  the  citizens,  but  has  been  used  in  cooking. 


278  MEMOIR    OP 

and  astonishment.  She  and  her  husband  both  enjoy 
religion.  Many  a  brilliant  soul  is  now  breathing  in  soft 
and  lively  emotions  in  remote  wildernesses,  and  many  a 
precious  pearl  is  buried  in  the  rubbish  of  poverty  and 
ignorance." 

From  Pomfret  he  visited  North  East,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  gave  two  sermons,  and  spent  a  day  in  Con- 
ference business ;  thence  to  Salem,  Ohio,  where  they 
were  joyfully  received  by  Col.  Fifield,  with  whom  Mr. 
B.  had  been  acquainted  in  Vermont,  eleven  years 
before.  There  they  met  Rev.  Asa  C.  Morrison,  then 
a  vigorous  and  efficient  preacher,  now  a  citizen  of  the 
unknown  spheres ;  there  they  enjoyed  a  large  atten- 
dance, gave  seven  sermons,  and  Mr.  Badger  bestows 
uncommon  praise  on  the  discourse  given  by  INIr.  Hath- 
away, on  "  the  subject  of  enthusiasm,  fanaticism,  false 
zeal  and  delusion."  Leaving  Salem  on  the  morning  of 
the  18th,  where  one  of  the  young  men  of  his  company 
concluded  to  remain,  (J.  E.  Church,)  he  proceeded 
on  his  journey  through  Pains ville,  at  the  mouth  of 
Grand  River,  Cleaveland,  Brunswick,  Medina  and 
Westfield  to  Canaan  Centre,  where  he  held  a  general 
meeting,  in  which  several  denominations  united — Pres- 
byterians, Methodists,  Baptists,  and  a  denomination 
who  styled  themselves  the  United  Brethren  ;  at  this 
time  Mr.  James  Miles  was  ordained  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry.  "  This  to  me,"  says  Mr.  Badger,  ''  was 
an  interesting  case,  as  he  was  a  young  man  w^hom  I 
dearly  loved,  and  one  that  I  many  years  before  bap- 
tized in  the  Province  of  Lower  Canada.;  he  is  the 
seventh  that  I  have  baptized  who  have  been  ordained 


REV.    JOSEPH  BADGEE.  27D 

as  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  We  left  Canaan  on  the 
26th ;  had  a  pleasant  journey  through  Wooster,  and 
reached  Mt.  Vernon  on  the  evening  of  the  27th,  and 
were  joyfully  received  by  Elder  James  Smith  and 
family.  He  is  an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testament 
and  a  respectable  citizen."  At  this  place  he  met 
several  ministers  from  the  Southern  States,  some  of 
hoary  hairs,  who  were  giving  the  remnant  of  their 
days  to  preaching  the  Gospel.  Here  Mr.  Badger  and 
Mr.  Hathaway  gave  three  sermons  each,  to  a  people 
•who  were  anxious  to  hear  and  learn  more  of  the  truth 
■which  belongs  to  the  great  theme  of  human  salvation 
through  the  Crucified  One. 

His  next  sketching  dates  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 25,  1825 :  — 

**  The  wise  and  prudent  conquer  difficulties 
By  daring  to  attempt  thera  ;  sloth  and  folly 
Shiver  and  shrink  at  sight  of  toil  and  danger, 
And  make  the  impossibility  they  fear." 

"  Sir, — On  leaving  our  good  friends  at  Mount  Vernon, 
on  the  first  day  of  November,  the  parting  was  affecting ; 
we  had  been  treated  with  great  attention  ;  we  had  here 
preached  the  word  to  the  crowded  assembly ;  had  seen 
the  sinner  in  tears  trembling  under  the  word ;  and  the 
very  place  where  we  were  assembled  appeared  like  holy 
ground.  We  were  conducted  to  Dublin,  on  the  Sciota 
river,  by  our  worthy  friend,  Elder  Marvin,  who  has  two 
sons  who  are  preachers  of  the  Gospel.  At  Sciota,  met 
Elder  Brittan  and  a  large  assembly  ;  gave  two  sermons ; 
Elder  M.  baptized  one  happy  convert." 

November  3d,  he  speaks  of  arriving  at  Derby 
Plains,  where  he  preached  five  sermons,  and  saw  the 


280  MEMOIR   OF 

ruinous  effects  of  the  strange  delusion  into  wliicli  a 
Mr.  Douglas  Farnum,  formerly  from  New  England, 
had  involved  himself  and  many  others  ;  a  delusion 
that  strove  to  ignore  the  common  rules  of  social 
morality,  and  to  find  a  direct  revelation  from  Heaven 
in  every  impulse  of  the  heart  and  mind.  Though 
excluded  from  the  people  of  his  earlier  association,  he 
held  a  few  deluded  persons  by  his  views,  until  self- 
destruction  scattered  them  and  left  their  names  a 
reproach  to  virtue.  Their  leader,  after  running  this 
singular  career,  died,  confessing,  however,  many  past 
errors  and  wrongs. 

"  When  a  people,"  says  Mr.  B.,  "  deviate  in  their  zeal 
from  the  rules  of  decency,  when  they  lay  aside  the  Scrip- 
ture, substitute  imagination  as  a  foundation  for  their  action, 
and  call  every  impulse  of  the  mind  an  immediate  revelation 
from  God,  I  expect  they  will  sink  their  characters  in  dis- 
grace, and  come  to  a  miserable  end.  I  visited  the 
vacated  village  where  he  and  his  followers  had  joined  in 
the  merry  dance,  and  felt  a  kind  of  horror,  like  that 
which  once  seized  the  thinking  soul  of  a  Yolney  at  the 
ruins  of  Palmyra." 

"  In  Clark  County,  at  the  head  waters  of  the  Little 
Miami,  we  had  good  meetings,  were  kindly  entertained 
by  Charles  Arther,  and  had  agreeable  intercourse  with 
Elder  Isaac  N.  Walters,  a  young  man  about,  twenty  years 
of  age,  who  bids  fair  to  be  useful.  At  Pleasant  town- 
ship, Madison  County,  we  were  kindly  received  by  Far- 
gis  Graham,  a  man  fifty-seven  years  of  age,  who  had  just 
returned  from  a  preaching  tour  of  six  weeks  in  Indiana ; 
he  had  a  good  journey,  and  felt  encouraged.  I  surveyed 
with   admiration   his  gray  hairs,  his   smiles  and  tears, 


EEV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  281 

while  he  gave  an  account  of  h[»  journey.  He  visited  the 
poor  cabins  in  the  "wilderness,  lay  on  the  ground  in  the 
great  prairie,  where  the  wolves  were  howling  around 
him,  and  passed  through  hunger  and  fatigue,  but  found 
God  to  be  with  him.  His  spacious  plantation  at  home, 
on  which  he  has  more  than  one  hundred  head  of  cattle, 
besides  other  stock  in  proportion,  reminded  me  of  the 
ancient  possessions  of  Abraham,  Lot,  and  Jacob.  He 
does  much  for  the  cause,  and  has  long  been  one  of  its 
ornaments  and  faithful  ministers." 

Messrs.  Badger,  Hathaway  and  Chapin,  paused 
awhile  at  Williamsport,  Pickaway  County,  where  they 
gave  seven  sermons,  and  received  the  kind  attentions 
of  Rev.  George  Alkire,  of  whom  he  speaks  in  very 
respectful  terms.  Holding  meetings  in  Piatt  and 
Highland  Counties,  he  parted  with  Mr.  H.  on  the  19th, 
who  travelled  to  Cincinnati  via  Kentucky,  and  passed 
ten  days  with  Rev.  M.  Gardner,  in  whose  congrega- 
tions he  attended  sixteen  meetings  and  preached  to 
large  and  respectable  assemblies.  At  Ripley,  Brown 
County,  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Hon.  E.  Camp- 
bell, who  had  many  years  been  a  member  of  the 
United  States  Senate ;  of  him  and  his  father-in-law, 
Mr.  Dunlap,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  among  the 
first  settlers  of  Kentucky,  a  man  who  had  emancipated 
thirty  slaves  and  applied  his  own  hands  to  labor,  he 
speaks  in  honoring  terms.  ''  His  colored  people," 
says  Mr.  B.,  "  still  flock  around  him  as  their  bene- 
factor, and  love  him  as  their  best  friend  on  earth." 

'^  On  the  29th  of  November,  I  reached  this  pleasant 
city.     Here,  and  in  the  adjoining  country,  I  have  had 


282  MEMOIR    OF  ' 

glorious  times,  an  account  of  which  you  may  expect  in 
my  next  number.  I  have  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  his- 
tory of  the  churches  and  conferences  in  the  west  and 
south  beyond  my  expectations.  The  preachers  appear 
friendly,  and  willing  to  lend  every  possible  assistance.  I 
shall  be  able,  in  a  few  weeks,  to  give  your  readers  a  gen- 
eral representation  of  the  state  of  things  west  of  the 
Alleghany  mountains,  in  which  vast  extent  of  country 
are  many  thousands  of  happy  Christians  who  renounce 
all  party  creeds  and  names,  and,  with  their  naked  Bibles 
in  hand,  are  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  immortality." 

The  next  dates  Ripley,  0.,  January  12,  1826.  Our 
journalist  says :  — 

"  The  prejudices,  customs,  ways,  manners,  and  opin- 
ions of  men,  how  various  !  But  these  are  not  the  fruit 
of  nature  or  grace,  but  the  products  of  education.  Na- 
ture and  grace  are  the  same  in  every  country,  and  vary 
only  in  form  and  degree. 

"  Cincinnati  is  a  beautiful  city,  situated  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  great  Ohio  river,  and  has  a  population  of 
about  15,000  souls.  It  is  surrounded,  on  the  east,  north 
and  west,  by  hills,  except  the  narrow  but  rich  valley  of 
Mill  Creek,  which  makes  its  way  through  from  the  north. 
Its  location  is  dry,  healthy,  and  truly  romantic.  Its 
streets  are  wide  and  pleasant,  and  its  buildings  elegant, 
in  eastern  style.  The  manners  of  the  people  are  a  com- 
pound of  southern  politeness  and  generosity,  and  of  east- 
ern refinement,  taste,  and  simplicity.  The  civility  of 
every  class  of  people,  down  to  the  teamster  and  carman, 
exceeds  that  of  any  city  I  ever  visited.  The  market,  for 
neatness  and  variety,  is  equal  to  any  in  America,  and  its 
price  only  about  one-half  that  of  Montreal,  Boston,  and 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  283 

New  York.  The  city  council  are  making  great  improve- 
ments, and  the  city  if  fast  populating.  Its  climate  is 
mild  and  agreeable,  and,  as  it  is  near  the  centre  of  Amer- 
ican settlements,  Ihnoio  not  ichat  it  may  yet  become." 

Such  was  the  Queen  City  in  1825.  The  state  of 
religion  there  he  describes  as  low,  ''  if,''  says  he,  "wo 
speak  of  experimental  religion ;  many  have  profes- 
sion, form  and  name,  but  we  shall  come  short  of 
lieavcn  without  something  more."  He  speaks  of  Mr. 
Burk,  a  popular  Methodist  minister,  as  having  re- 
nounced Episcopacy  and  taken  with  him  a  large  con- 
gregation, as  being  so  far  illuminated  as  to  "  see  men 
as  trees  walking  ; "  Mr.  Badger  quotes  the  words  of 
Franklin  —  "  Where  there  is  no  contradiction  there  is 
no  light,"  as  applying  well  to  agitations  of  this  sort. 
Of  the  new  reformers  among  the  Baptists,  he  speaks 
as  follows :  — 

"  The  Baptists  in  Cincinnati,  also,  have  had  revivals, 
but  among  them  exists  a  great  commotion,  and  a  large 
congregation  join  with  those  in  Kentucky  and  Yirginia 
in  the  general  dissent  from  creeds.  Dr.  Fishback,  of 
Kentucky,  and  Alexander  Campbell,  of  Virginia,  are  the 
champions  in  this  cause.  They  oppose  sectarian  bond- 
age with  considerable  ability  and  success.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell is  truly  a  man  of  war,  and  acts  the  part  of  a  Peter 
with  his  drawn  sword ;  but,  whether  they  will  have  humil- 
ity, grace,  and  pure  religion  enough  to  '  revive  the  an- 
cient order  of  things  "  in  the  original  spirit  and  simpli- 
city of  the  Gospel,  or  whether  they  will  be  laborious 
architects  of  their  own  fame,  remains  for  their  future  con- 
duct to  prove." 


284  MEMOIR    OP 

In  Preble  County,  fifty  miles  north  of  Cincinnati, 
Mr.  B.  preached  several  sermons  at  Eaton,  the  county 
seat ;  the  sheriff  of  the  county  was  his  chorister  and 
host,  whose  house,  owing  to  the  good  order  of  the 
country,  was  destitute  of  a  prisoner ;  the  rooms 
usually  occupied  by  criminals  being  now  used  to 
keep  the  earth's  productions.  On  the  authority  of 
two  ministers  and  several  other  persons  who  wero 
eye-witnesses,  Mr.  Badger  relates  that  he  spoke  in 
the  house  where,  in  1821,  during  a  great  reformation, 
Jacob  AVoodard,  a  Deist,  was  struck  dead  by  an 
unseen  power  while  in  the  act  of  forcing  his  wife  out 
of  the  meeting ;  that  he  never  breathed  or  struggled 
after  he  fell  —  a  phenomenon  that  belongs  to  many 
other  marvellous  instances  of  nearly  inexplicable  events 
we  have  heard  of  in  connection  with  the  earlier  re- 
ligious revivals  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Badger  thoroughly  ex- 
plored that  State,  and  with  great  satisfaction  visited 
Kentucky.  Indeed,  the  easy  and  courteous  manners 
of  Mr.  Badger,  his  happy  extemporaneous  gifts,  his 
love  of  society  and  generous  sentiments,  peculiarly 
adapted  him  to  the  admiration  and  acceptance  of  the 
South.  Of  Rev.  B.  W.  Stone  and  lady,  he  speaks  in 
the  most  exalted  terms  ;  and,  whatever  may  have  been 
the  speculative  diflferences  between  Mr.  Stone  and  his 
brethren  in  later  years,  all  must  unite  in  one  conces- 
sion to  the  soundness  of  his  learning,  the  clearness  of 
his  criticisms,  and  in  what  is  eternally  above  all  other 
things,  the  beauty  and  excellence  of  his  Christian 
character.  Mr.  B.  now  returned  home  to  Mendon, 
Ontario*  County,  New  York,  and  further  narrates  the 

*  Then  all  the  towns  east  of  the  Genesee,  in  this  section,  were  in 
Ontario  County  ;  Monroe  County  was  not  then  formed. 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  285 

particulars  of  his  adventures.  lie  surveys  with  grate- 
ul  pleasure  the  scenes  he  has  witnessed,  the  kind- 
nesses he  has  received,  the  new  acquaintances  and 
friends  he  had  gained ;  and  from  experience  and 
observation  he  was  prepared  to  speak  in  the  most 
friendly  terms  of  his  brethren  in  the  south  and  west, 
and  the  tidings  he  brought  when  formally  announced 
was,  to  use  the  language  of  Mr.  Millard,  "  received 
with  much  joy."  The  brethren  of  the  West  were 
reported  as  having  no  creed  but  the  Bible,  and  they 
"  wear  no  name  but  such  as  the  Scriptures  authorize, 
that  they  uniformly  believe  in  the  simple  doctrine  that 
there  is  one  God,  the  Creator,  oxe  Jesus,  the 
Redeemer,  one  Holy  Ghost,  the  Sanctifier ; "  that 
they  generally  favor  the  preexistence  of  Christ,  re- 
garding the  Socinian  view  of  him  as  derogatory  to  the 
character  of  the  Christian  religion. 

**  Free  salvation,"  says  Mr.  B.,  "  is  sounded  through 
all  their  congregations,  and  Gospel  liberty  is  the  key-note 
of  every  song.  No  point  of  doctrine  is  made  a  criterion 
of  fellowship,  but  Christian  fellowship  rests  alone  on  the 
true  bias  of  spiiit  and  practice.  They  are  simple,  un- 
assuming, and  spiritual  in  their  preaching  and  worship  ; 
the  labor  of  the  ministers  is  to  make  their  hearers  good  : 
a  great  share  of  singing  and  prayer  is  interspersed  through 
their  meetings.  For  twenty  years  they  have  been  in  the 
way  of  holding  camp-meetings,  but  the  practice  is  fast 
declining,  though  in  many  cases  good  has  resulted  from 
them.  Our  brethren  in  the  west  and  south  are  as  well 
supplied  with  preachers  as  our  churches  are  in  the  east, 
if  not  better,  —  preachers  who  are  acquainted  with  the 
manners  of  the  people,  and  are  in  a  capacity  to  do  much 
more  good  than  eastern  men  can  do  among  them." 


286  MEMOIR    OF 

Under  date  of  April  1,  1826,  Mr.  Badger  gives  a 
very  lengthy,  interesting,  and  we  should  judge  faithful 
account  of  his  visit  in  Oliio  and  Kentucky,  of  the 
proceedings  of  a  Conference  in  each  of  those  States, 
convened  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  and  answering 
his  message  for  the  east ;  both  of  which  were  hearty 
in  their  responses  of  friendship,  and  both  furnished 
him  with  materials  for  giving  their  true  history  to  their 
brethren  of  the  east  and  north.  He  speaks  of  three 
denominational  centres,  which  he  thinks  the  future 
will  witness,  each  having  a  periodical  and  a  book-store 
connected  with  it,  Cincinnati  the  centre  for  the  west, 
New  York  for  the  east,  and  some  place  in  one  of  the 
Carolinas  for  the  south.  From  Eev.  William  Kinkade, 
that  able,  strong-minded  and  heroic  divine,  who  had 
served  his  country  in  legislative  councils,  and  humanity 
by  his  ministry,  Mr.  Badger  received  a  strong  letter, 
giving  an  account  of  the  rise  and  growth  of  the  Chris- 
tian Conference  on  the  Wabash,  of  one  in  Indiana,  and 
touching  on  some  of  the  larger  points  of  primitive  faith. 
He  says  :  — 

*'  While  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  from  you 
that  primitive  Christianity  is  reviving  in  the  east,  I  hope 
you  will  be  no  less  pleased  to  hear  of  its  success  in  the 
west.  This  vast  country,  which  was  lately  a  howling 
wilderness,  now  blossoms  as  the  rose.  On  the  big  and 
little  Wabash,  which  is  still  the  haunt  of  savage  men  and 
wild  beasts,  there  are  now  large  churches  of  happy  Chris- 
tians. Along  the  Ambarrass  and  Bumpass,  where  twelve 
years  ago  little  else  was  heard  but  the  howling  of  wolves, 
the  hooting  of  owls,  the  fierce  screams  of  panthers  and  the 
fiercer  screams  of  wild  Indians,  painted  for  war  and  thirst- 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  287 

ing  for  human  blood,  are  now  heard  the  songs  of  Zion,  the 
sound  of  prayer,  and  the  voice  of  peace  and  pardon  through 
a  Redeemer.  Among  us  the  demon  intolerance  has  been 
exposed  in  its  multifarious  character,  and  banished  from 
the  congregation  of  the  faithful.  Ignorance  has  given  way 
to  investigation  ;  and  love  and  union  are  daily  triumphing 
over  prejudice  and  partyism.  But  still  I  see,  I  feel,  I 
lament  a  great  want  of  that  holiness  and  divine  power 
which  characterized  the  followers  of  Jesus  in  the  first  ages 
of  Christianity." 

"  It  is  the  word  of  God  alone,"  said  these  stout, 
honest-hearted  men  of  Ohio,  when  assembled  —  "  the 
■word  of  God  alone,  on  which  the  Church  of  Christ  will 
finally  settle,  build  and  grow  into  a  holv"  temple  of 
tlie  Lord."  Mr.  Badger,  after  taking  a  list  of  the 
names  cf  ministers  in  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  and  with  a 
characteristic  orderly  minuteness,  ascertained  the  num- 
ber of  churches  and  of  meeting-houses  they  erected, 
the  names  of  such  as  had  died  in  the  active  duties  of 
the  ministry,  returned  home,  rich  in  the  benedic- 
tions of  the  regions  he  had  visited,  and  with  the  re- 
solve at  some  other  season  to  penetrate  the  south 
further  than  he  yet  had  gone.  f*erhaps  the  good  im- 
pressions made  on  his  mind  by  these  journeys  may  be 
plead  in  conjunction  with  the  wide  sympathies  of  his 
nature,  and  the  well-balanced  cast  of  his  intellect,  as 
the  reason  why  in  all  his  life  he  was  uncontrolled  by 
local  prejudice,  and  it  may  be  a  part  of  the  reason  why, 
that  to  him,  and  to  the  cause  of  free  and  Apostolical 
Christianity  which  he  represented,  there  was  no  east, 
no  west,  no  north,  no  south,  as  forming  any  hmit  to 
his  friendly  regards  and  Christian  fellowship.     At  Cua- 


288^  MEMOIR    OF 

cinnati  he  gathered  the  few  who  held  to  like  faith  into 
a  convenient  place  of  worship,  made  arrangements  with 
ministers  for  their  supply,  and  before  his  return  a 
general  Conference  was  agreed  upon  at  Cincinnati  the 
last  of  October,  1826. 

June  2od,  at  the  Annual  Session  of  the  New  York 
"Western  Christian  Conference,  he  was,  with  Rev.  A 
C.  Morrison,  appointed  a  messenger  to  the  United 
States  Conference,  to  be  holden  at  Windham,  Ct.,  the 
first  days  of  September,  where  among  the  responsible 
trusts  committed  to  him,  was  that  of  acting  as  their 
messenger  at  the  autumnal  assemblage  of  delegates  and 
ministers  who  were  to  convene  .  at  Cincinnati.  From 
April  to  August  of  this  year,  Mr.  Badger  was  con- 
stantly engaged  in  the  vicinity  of  home  ;  at  South  Lima 
additions  were  made,  the  assembly  was  large  ;  the 
society  at  Royalton  he  consigned  to  the  care  of  Rev. 
E.  Shaw,  an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testament. 
August  1 8th,  he  visited  New  York  city  where  he  stayed 
two  Sabbaths,  and  spoke  to  increasing  assembhes.  His 
remarks  on  the  commotion  and  dissent  which  at  that 
time  appeared  among  the  Friends  under  the  preaching 
of  Elias  Hix,  his  clos?  and  practical  analysis  of  the 
state  of  society  in  New  York  city,  though  interesting, 
we  must  pass  by;  also  his  remarks  on  the  general 
meetings  he  attended  at  Beekman  and  Milan,  Dutchess 
County,  and  of  one  at  Canaan,  Columbia  County,  N.  Y. 
Something  tragical  developed  under  his  four  sermons 
at  Beekman.  A  minister  of  another  sect,  who  had 
violently  opposed  the  people  and  sentiments  to  which 
Mr.  Badger  belonged,  was  observed  to  weep  much 
under  his  discourse,  and  afterwards  was  heard  to  say 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  289 

that  it  was  the  truth  of  God,  and  that  none  could  deny 
it  —  the  same  night  ho  went  into  a  grove  near  his  resi- 
dence, and  hung  himself. 

In  Columbia  County,  Mr.  Badger  became  acquainted 
with  the  venerable  old  minister,  John  Leland,  of  whom 
the  world  has  heard  much,  a  man  then  between  seventy 
and  eighty  years  old,  but  possessing  the  brilliancy  of 
youth.  Though  local  at  the  time,  he  said  that  his 
travels  as  a  minister  would  measure  three  times  around 
the  globe.  From  Rev.  Mr.  Gardner,  a  prominent 
minister  in  Ohio,  Mr.  B.  received  these  Unes  of  in- 
vitation :  "A  second  visit  from  yourself  in  this  country 
will  be  well  received.  Our  hearts  and  our  houses  are 
open  to  receive  you,  and  many  are  inquiring,  '  When 
will  he  return?'"  Rev.  Mr.  Adams  also  writes: 
*'  The  friends  remember  you  with  affection  ;  they  have 
not  forgotten  your  sermons  and  good  counsels  ;  they 
are  anxious  to  receive  another  visit  from  you,  and  think 
that  you  would  do  much  good  in  this  country.  I  am 
confident  there  is  not  a  society  you  visited  here  but 
would  unite  in  inviting  you  to  return."  Several  such 
invitations  were  kindly  showered  upon  him.  He  did 
return.  We  may  ask  where  were  his  idle  days  ?  It 
was  one  of  his  chosen  maxims  that  "  an  idle  person  is 
the  devil's  playfellow."  In  all  these  labors  we  see  a 
spirit  that  surveys  the  general  interest,  plans  for  the 
general  good,  and  leads  along  easily  the  minds  of 
others  into  the  possession  of  his  own  views  and  feelings. 
In  the  southern  and  western  journey,  narrated  in  this 
chapter,  there  were  revivals  in  almost  every  place  he 
visited,  as  we  learn  not  only  frqpi  his  own  journal,  but 
more  particularly  from  other  and  rehable  sources. 
13 


290  XKMOIR   OF 

Bis  second  tour  tlnough  Ohio  and  Kentackj,  in 
whicli  he  renewed  and  greatlj  enlarged  his  acqaain- 
tance.  gave  him  a  still  larger  estimate  of  the  saccess 
of  liberal  principles  in  the  west  and  sonth.  By  the 
advices  of  the  best  infonned  ministers,  he  learned  that 
the  acconnt  he  had  published  the  previous  spring  in 
relation  to  the  nnmber  of  ministers  and  brethren  in  the 
west  was  much  too  smaD,  and  that,  using  his  own  lan- 
goage,  "  it  is  a  safe  and  moderate  calculation  to  say, 
that  in  the  several  Conferences  situate  in  Ohio,  In- 
diana, Illinois,  Missouri,  Tennessee,  Alabama,  and 
Kentucky,  there  are  three  hundred  preachers  and  fif- 
teen thousand  brethren.  They  all  worship  OXE  GOD 
IN  OXE  Person,  and  have  no  creed  but  their 
Bible."    He  says ; 

"I  have  again  passed  through  the  lofty  forests  md. 
beautifal  plains  of  Ohio ;  have  seen  the  herds  of  wild  deer 
sporting  on  the  lovely  prairie  ;  have  heard  the  screams  of 
the  fierce  wolf,  and  have  turned  aside  from  these  romantic 
beauties  and  terrors  of  oature  to  the  wigwam  of  the  sav- 
age to  hear  the  praises  of  the  Redeemer.  Also,  I  have 
again  visited  the  pleasant  land  of  Kentucky ;  have  seen 
the  smiles  of  the  convert,  the  tears  of  mourners,  and  have 
joined  in  worship  with  thousands  of  happy  Christians  in 
the  west  who  are  rejoicing  in  hope  of  immortality. 
•  *^  It  is  now  a  more  general  time  of  reformation  in  the 
west  than  has  been  witnessed  for  many  years  past.  At 
Dublin,  Elder  Isaac  N.  Walters  has  been  very  successful 
in  winning  souls  to  Christ.  In  Elder  Alkire's  vicinity 
the  churches  have  received  large  additions  of  late.  In 
Elder  Gardner's  congregations  the  number  was  increasing, 
and  a  new  church  had  been  organized  wiihin  a  few  weeks. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER  291 

In  Elder  Rogers's  neighborhood  some  sixty  or  seventy 
were  hopefully  converted  ;  and  from  Elders  Simonton, 
Vickers,  Kyle  and  Miles  I  heard  a  good  report.  In  Ken- 
tucky the  prospect  has  not  been  so  good  as  it  now  is  for 
many  years.  News  from  the  west  part  of  Virginia,  and 
east  of  Tennessee,  by  Elder  William  Lane,  was  very 
refreshing.  Sectarianism  there  is  fast  falling.  In  Ala- 
bama the  Lord  is  doing  wonders,  and  the  knowledge  of 
one  God  is  fast  increasing ;  in  those  regions  he  has  raised 
up  many  able  advocates  for  his  pure  doctrines.  In  Ken- 
tucky, my  interview  with  the  preachers,  brethren  and 
friends  was  very  agreeable,  and  their  kindness  and  friend- 
ship can  never  be  forgotten  by  me.  A  message  was  sent 
to  me  by  order  of  the  church  at  Georgetown,, seventy 
miles  distant,  inviting  me  to  visit  them.  In  Ohio,  my 
visit  was  everywhere  received  with  joy.  At  Cincinnati, 
the  congregation  was  large  and  the  prospect  is  good.  Our 
friends  there  will  probably  build  a  brick  meeting-house 
for  the  worship  of  one  God  in  one  Person,  in  the  course 
of  next  summer. 

"  Since  July  I  have  travelled  about  three  thousand 
miles,  and  attended  about  one  hundred  meetings.  My 
present  tour  has  been  attended  with  more  fatigues  than 
any  journey  I  have  ever  performed.  My  preaching  has 
been  constant ;  and  after  meeting  I  have  many  times  been 
constrained  to  engage  in  debate  in  which  I  have  continued 
until  morning.  I  have  had  to  preach  many  sermons  on 
disputed  subjects,  one  at  Cincinnati  of  three  hours'  length  ; 
though  I  had  opponents  present,  they  made  no  reply  ;  one 
at  Dublin  of  more  than  two  hours  ;  eight  preachers  pres- 
ent, but  no  reply  ;  one  at  Richfield  of  two  hours.  God 
has  stood  by  me  in  all  my  conflicts  thus  far,  and  many 
instances  of  his  mercy  have  I  witnessed  of  late.  I  have 
been  once  overturned  in  a  stage,  and  in   Kentucky  I  fell 


292  MEMOIR    OF 

from    my    horse ;    in    both    instances    narrowly   escaped 
death." 

In  Columbiana  County,  tlie  two  colleagues  of  Mr. 
Badger,  L.  Hathaway  and  Asa  Chapin,  met  a  great 
excess  of  enthusiasm  in  public  worship,  against  which 
they  directed  the  cooler  power  of  reason ;  and  it  seems 
that  a  strong  paragraph  in  Mr.  Badger's  printed  jour- 
nal, in  which  he  sharply  and  most  independently  re- 
proved ^as  he  always  did  under  such  circumstances) 
disorder  and  fanaticism  in  the  house  of  God,  caused 
a  lengthy,  explanatory,  and  complaining  reply,  to 
which  Mr.  B.  very  ably  responded.  Speaking  of  the 
one  who  had  led  the  way  in  this  wild  enthusiasm,  and 
whom  he  regarded  as  having  been  egotistically  un- 
pleasant to  his  colleagues,  he  applies  the  words  of 
Johnson : 

"Fate  never  wounds  more  deep  the  generous  heart, 
Than  when  the  blockhead's  insult  points  the  dart." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Conference  held  at 
West  Bloomfield,  September  7,  1827,  a  resolution  of 
hearty  approval  was  passed  in  relation  to  what  Mr. 
Badger  had  done  for  uniting  the  different  branches  of 
the  Christian  connection,  east,  west  and  south,  and  ex- 
pressive of  much  gratification  in  the  news  obtained  of 
the  churches  west  of  the  Alleghanies. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  293 


CHAPTER  XV. 

MINISTRY      AT      BOSTON. 

It  is  evident  from  what  has  already  been  developed 
in  the  character  and  public  life  of  Joseph  Badger,  that 
his  sympathies  were  extensive,  that  the  cause  -which  h$ 
always  avowed  to  be  dearer  than  life  was  everywhere 
a  sacred  unit,  its  wants  being  near,  though  located  in 
a  distant  region.  Some  men  root  so  firmly  in  particu- 
lar locality,  that  no  considerations  ever  draw  them  to 
meet  the  emergencies  of  a  distant  post.  Though  strong 
in  certain  local  attachments,  though  firmly  persuaded 
of  the  value  and  necessity  of  permanent  pastors,  he 
believed  in  the  utility  of  an  evangelizing  ministry  for 
destitute  places,  for  the  breaking  of  new  ground,  and 
was  ready  at  any  time  to  hear  the  ]Macedonian  cry, 
"  Come  over  and  help  us." 

The  Christian  Church  in  Boston,  constituted  July 
1st,  1804,  under  the  ministry  of  the  venerable  Abner 
Jones,  whose  preaching  in  1803  in  the  Baptist  churches 
of  that  town  was  attended  by  one  of  the  greatest  revi- 
vals ever  known  in  that  community,  was,  in  the  year 
1826,  left  without  a  stated  ministry,  owing  to  the  re- 
moval of  their  pastor.  Rev.  Charles  Morgridge,  to  New 
Bedford,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  pastoral  charge 
of  the  Purchase  street  church  in  that  city.  Their  po- 
sition at  this  time  was  very  critical.  Though  they  had 
succeeded  in  building  a  commodious  house  of  worship, 
they  were,  from  the  nature  of  their  sentiments,  somewhat 


294  MEMOIR    OF 

unpopular  in  a  city  where  the  Calvinistic  theology  had  not 
as  yet  fully  learned  the  lessons  of  becoming  humility  ; 
and  also  were  they  embarrassed  by  the  influence  of  Dr. 
Elias  Smith,  whose  popular  eloquence  was  at  this  time 
employed  in  a  way  to  injure  the  cause,  which,  in  other 
years,  he  had  done  much  to  promote.  The  society  had 
been  for  some  time  destitute  of  a  stated  pastor  ;  and  by 
the  information  obtained  of  their  condition  in  the  per- 
suasive letters  he  received  from  Rev.  Simon  Clough, 
of  New  York,  and  from  some  leading  members  of  the 
church  in  Boston,  ]Mr.  Badger  was  induced  to  leave 
his  pleasant  field  of  labor  in  the  State  of  New  York  and 
to  take  up  his  residence  in  that  city,  where  he  intended 
to  remain  until  their  prosperity  and  the  voice  of  higher 
duty  should  render  it  proper  for  him  to  leave. 

Proceeding  by  the  way  of  New  York,  where  he 
preached  four  sermons  to  Mr.  Clough's  congregation, 
he  arrived  at  Boston  on  September  28th,  where  he 
received  the  cordial  welcome  and  generous  hospitaUty 
of  his  friend  William  Gridley,  a  man  of  noble  spirit, 
good  ability,  and  useful  activities  in  the  Christian  cause. 
On  the  30th,  Mr.  Badger  preached  three  sermons  in 
the  Summer  and  Sea  street  Chapel,  having,  as  he 
states,  congregations  that  numbered  about  400  in  the 
morning,  800  in  the  afternoon,  and  600  in  the  evening. 
Surveying  the  new  field  before  him,  he  says,  though 
informed  by  his  friends  that  it  was  a  low  time,  that 
"  the  prospect  is  good."  Though  Mr.  Badger's  letters 
do  not  state  the  exact  time  of  his  residence  in  this  city, 
I  find  in  a  passing  notice  from  the  able  and  truthful 
pen  of  John  G.  Loring  —  a  man  whose  life,  precepts, 
intelligence,  and  uniform  fidelity  to  religion,  rendered 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  295 

him  one  of  the  best  citizens  of  Massachusetts  —  that 
the  time  spent  there  was  a^out  one  year. 

In  narrating  the  history  of  that  society  about  the 
time  that  Mr.  Morgridge  left  them,  Mr.  Himes  observes 
— "  Some  time  now  elapsed  in  which  they  had  no  stated 
pastor.  They  procured,  at  length,  the  services  of  El- 
der Joseph  Badger  ;  he  labored  with  them  between 
one  and  two  years.  Much  good  was  done.  The  church 
and  society  were  built  up,  and  sinners  were  converted."* 
This  statement  is  the  same  that  the  people  of  Boston 
who  attended  his  ministry  have,  so  far  as  my  recollec- 
tions serve,  invariably  made  ;  the  common  opinion  is, 
that  the  church  and  society  were  never  more  uniformly 
prosperous,  that  the  meetings  were  never  better  at- 
tended, and  that  the  mind  and  heart  of  the  audience 
were  never  more  satisfactorily  influenced  and  edified 
than  they  were  under  his  ministry.  The  strong  and 
stable  men  who  were  then  the  pillars  of  strength  in  that 
society  have  been  its  pillars  ever  since  ;  t  and  though 

*  In  a  later  address  of  Mr.  Loring,  than  the  one  whose  statements 
were  quoted  by  Mr.  Himes,  published  in  1844,  which  was  the  40th 
anniversary  of  the  Boston  Church,  Mr.  L.  observes  —  "Elder  Badger 
arrived  in  September,  and  commenced  preaching.  His  labors  were 
successful,  and  many  gathered  to  hear  the  word.  In  the  winter  fol- 
lowing, a  considerable  number  professed  conversion,  and  were  re- 
ceived by  the  Church.  Under  date  of  Lord's  day,  March  23^  1828, 
there  stands  on  the  Church  record  the  following  entry: — 'At  the 
close  of  the  afternoon  service,  Elder  Badger,  with  the  candidates  for 
baptism,  previously  prepared,  proceeded  in  ten  carriages  to  South 
Boston,  where  they  were  followed  by  a  large  portion  of  the  congrega- 
tion. After  solemn  prayer,  the  ordinance  was  administered  after  the 
example  of  our  glorious  Lord.'  Elder  Badger  remained  with  us  about 
a  year,  and  during  his  stay  I  believe  this  house  was  generallv  as  well 
filled  as  at  any  period  since  its  erection." — p.  18. 

t  J.  G.  Loring  and  Wm.  Gridley  are  deceased ;  the  former  but 
recently.  • 


296  MEMOIR    OF 

« 

additions  of  value  at  different  times  have  been  made, 
it  is  certain  that  there  Tvas  a  largeness  and  nobility  to 
the  timbers  of  the  olden  forest  that  it  might  be  difi&cult 
to  surpass  in  more  recent  growths. 

As  a  pastor,  Mr.  Badger  was  attentive  to  the  wants 
of  his  flock,  for  whom  he  cherished  a  tender  care. 
"Though  the  situation  is  a  trying  one,"  said  Mr.  B., 
in  a  letter  addressed  to  his  wife,  *'  I  feel  in  duty  bound 
to  stay  for  the  present,  for  this  chm*ch  must  not  perish. 
All  my  days  and  evenings  are  taken  up  by  the  duties 
of  mj  present  station."  Writing  from  Ballstown, 
N.  Y.,  June  8,  1828,  where  he  was  attending  a  gen- 
eral meeting,  after  he  had  been  at  Boston  for  more  than 
six  months,  and  at  his  home  in  Mendon  about  two, 
he  said  — 

"This  hasty  note,  my  dear  Eliza,*  which  will  no  doubt 
be  an  unwelcome  message,  will  inform  you  that  I  am 
pressingly  urged  to  return  immediately  to  Boston.  The 
call  is  irresistible.  And  my  agreeable  home  must  for 
the  present  be  abandoned,  as  the  care  and  conflict  of  the 
Boston  church  are  continually  upon  my  mind." 

The  main  element  of  success  in  any  calling  for  which 
one  has  suitable  capacity,  was  his,  namely,  a  deep 
interest  in  the  station  he  had  taken. 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  Mrs.  Badgei*,  February  4, 
1827,  he  narrates  very  affectingly  his  visit  to  Farming- 
ton,  the  sacred  memories  of  the  heart  that  revised  in 
his  mind  as  he  visited  that  place,  and  Gilmanton,  where, 
with  relatives  and  many  former  friends,  he  enjoyed  the 

•  Mrs.  Badger. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  297 

bliss  of  a  friendship  to  which  years  of  time  had  added 
a  new  degree  of  sacreduess.  It  is  impossible  to  read 
these  passages,  which  were  the  spontaneous  and  un- 
studied utterances  of  his  mind  thrown  into  his  domestic 
correspondence,  without  seeing  a  sincere  wealth  of 
heart,  which  his  light  and  buoyant  manner  in  the  world 
was  often  calculated  to  conceal  rather  than  to  express. 
In  addressing  the  Luminary,  May  9, 1828,  he  says : 

"  I  intended  in  this  number  of  my  Journal,  to  have 
given  a  general  account  of  all  the  religious  societies  in 
Boston,  but  other  things  have  prevented  my  giving  that 
attention  to  the  subject  which  would  be  necessary  in  this 
case ;  I  must  therefore  omit  it  till  some  future  period. 
The  Calvin istic  Baptists,  the  Methodists  and  the  Unitari- 
ans, have  made  many  disciples  to  their  several  parties 
the  year  past ;  a  number  of  whom  we  hope  are  experi- 
mental and  practical  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ.  Four 
new  chapels  have  been  opened  in  Boston  the  winter  past, 
and  while  other  societies  have  been  favored  with  revivals 
through  the  goodness  of  God,  the  Christian  Society, 
which  has  withstood  all  opposition  for  more  than  twenty 
years,  has  of  late  experienced  some  of  the  rich  mercy- 
drops.  I  have  been  laboring  among  them  some  over  six 
months,  and  have  been  enabled  with  divine  assistance  to 
gather  up  the  fruits  of  my  brethren's  labors  who  went 
before  me.  The  names  of  Clougli  and  Morgridge  were 
mentioned  by  some  whom  I  baptized,  as  the  means,  under 
God,  of  calling  up  their  attention  to  the  concern  of  the 
soul.  I  will  name  one  instance :  I  baptized  a  very  re- 
spectable young  lady  who  had  always  attended  a  Unita- 
rian meeting  until  a  few  months  since,  when  she  found  in 
a  pew  of  her  chapel  Clough's  letter  to  Mr.  Smallfield, 
which  excited  her  inquiry  and  finally  became  the  means 
13* 


298  MEMOIR    OF 

of  her  awakening.     Thus  a  good   thing   may  come   out 
of  a  despised  and  persecuted  Nazareth." 

**  The  23d  of  March  was  a  day  of  great  interest  to 
myself  and  the  Cliristian  Society  of  Boston  :  the  day  was 
fine,  and  the  assembly  large.  On  this  memorable  day 
twenty-four  happy  converts  presented  themselves  for 
baptism.  Thousands  assembled  at  the  sea-side  in  South 
Boston :  and  though  some  confusion  was  visible  amidst 
*he  thronging  multitude,  yet  God  was  with  his  children 
to  own  and  bless  his  holy  ordinance.  This  was  a  day  of 
unusual  strength  and  comfort  to  me ;  I  preached  three 
sermons,  was  in  the  water  forty-five  minutes,  and  through 
the  whole  was  scarcely  sensible  of  fatigue.  God's  strength 
has  hitherto  been  sutficient :  in  Him  I  put  my  trust.  I 
would  not  wish,  however,  by  this,  or  any  other  communi- 
cation of  mine,  to  carry  the  idea  that  we  have  had  a  great 
reformation  in  Boston,  for  we  have  only  a  small  addition 
to  our  numbers,  and  have  been  blessed  only  with  occa- 
sional conversions ;  but  I  hope  that  those  wlio  have 
professed  faith  in  Christ  are  converted  to  God  and  not  to 
creeds,  or  to  a  party,  or  to  man  ;  and  that  the  work  is  so 
effectual  that  it  will  endure  in  time  of  trial.  All  the 
New  England  States  are  abundantly  blessed  with  the 
outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God  at  the  present  time.  A 
cloud  of  mercy  is  hanging  over  the  happy  land.  If  the 
ministers  keep  humble  and  stand  in  the  counsel  of  God, 
if  the  saints  live  in  union  and  stand  fast  in  the  liberty 
wherewith  Christ  has  made  them  free,  the  pure  testimony 
must  and  will  prevail,  and  reformation  everywhere  will 
abound.  What  we  have  seen  will  be  only  the  beginning 
of  good  days ;  the  petty  wrangles  of  frail  mortals  will 
subside  ;  the  darkness  in  which  the  Church  has  long  been 
groping  will  be  dispelled ;  and  she  will  come  forth  from 
the  wilderness  on  the  breast  of  her  beloved,  and  will  fill 
the  world  with  her  majesty,  glory  and  beauty." 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  299 

The  first  days  of  April,  1828,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Badger 
improved  in  returning  home  to  Mendon,  N.  Y.  ;  in 
their  absence,  William,  their  youngest  son,  had  died  ; 
in  the  region  of  Mendon  he  chiefly  remained  until 
his  June  meeting  at  Ballstown,  already  spoken  of, 
when  the  united  request  of  the  committee,  WilUam 
Gridley,  John  Gr.  Loring,  Abncr  H.  Bowman,  in  be- 
half of  the  society  in  Boston,  arrived,  inviting  him  to 
return  as  soon  as  possible  to  their  assistance ;  •svhicli 
request,  together  with  an  invidious  article  pubhshed 
in  Dr.  Elias  Smith's  paper  in  relation  to  Mr.  Badger's 
position  in  regard  to  him,  induced  his.  immediate 
return  to  that  city,  where  he  boldly  and  successfully 
vindicated  his  premises,  whether  theological  or  per- 
sonal. Within  the  three  months  succeeding  his  ar- 
rival on  June  21st,  are  several  valuable  letters  from 
his  pen.     A  few  extracts  we  will  here  subjoin  :  — 

'•  Boston,  July  8,  1828. 
"  My  dear  Wife  :  I  am  this  moment  much  refreshed  in 
receiving  a  letter  from  you,  and  I  would  now  make  such 
returns  as  become  an  affectionate  husband.  I  spent  one 
•  week  agreeably  in  New  York,  and  had  a  pleasant  passage 
to  this  city,  where  we  arrived  in  good  health,  June  21st. 
The  22d,  my  assembly  was  large,  and  all  greeted  me 
with  the  same  joy  and  affection  as  when  we  parted  with 
them,  at  a  time  you  must  well  remember  —  the  past 
spring.  My  first  text  was  Acts  15  :  36 :  *  Let  us  go 
again  and  visit  our  brethren  in  every  city  where  we  have 
preached  the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  see  how  they  do.' 
The  brethren  have  lost  much  since  I  left  them  ;  but  we 
have  already  seen  their  strength  and  courage  revive,  and 
several  are  now  under  awakening." 


800  MEMOIR    OF 

"  Boston,  July  19,  1828. 

*'  Brother  Millard :  I  have  received  yours  of  June  28, 
and  -was  glad  to  hear  of  your  success  in  Canada  and  at 
the  Central  Conference.  The  truth  must  prevail,  and 
error  must  fall.  Since  my  return  our  assembly  is  fast 
coming  back,  and  we  are  getting  many  new  hearers.  A 
revival  is  now  commencing.  Several  are  under  convic- 
tion, and  the  saints  begin  to  offer  '  the  pure  testimony '  in 
the  house  of  the  Lord.  Elders  Kilton,  from  Eastport, 
and  Green,  from  Hartford,  have  visited  me.  I  have 
visited  the  colleges  at  Cambridge,  and  the  venera- 
ble Noah  Worcester,  of  Brighton.  He  is  one  of  the 
purest  men  I  ever  saw.  His  theme  is  peace,  peace, 
peace  !  I  would  also  say,  that  for  young  men  among  us 
who  should  wish  to  have  a  liberal  education  for  the  min- 
istry, they  can  have  board  and  tuition  gratis,  if  properly 
introduced  at  Cambridge. 

"  I  have  been  much  out  of  health  for  a  few  weeks 
past ;  the  hot  weather  overcomes  me  very  much.  If  I 
do  not  get  better  I  shall  spend  the  week  time  in  the 
country,  though  it  seems  as  if  I  could  not  be  spared  a 
day  from  the  flock  of  my  care." 

"Boston,  August  4,  1828. 
"  Dear  and  affectionate  Wife :  I  suppose  you  have  some 
days  been  expecting  this  letter,  but  my  labors  here  are 
of  that  arduous  and  oppressive  kind  which  consume  all 
ray  moments,  and  scarcely  leave  me  time  for  repose  and 
refreshment,  jnuch  less  to  enjoy  any  innocent  relaxation, 
or  to  bathe  my  weary  spirit  in  the  sweet  and  endearing 
reflections  of  home.  You  know,  Maria,  that  home  has 
charms  for  my  heart  this  summer,  which  I  scarcely  ever 
felt  so  sensibly  before  ;  and  since  I  left  you,  at  any  time 
would  these  four  little  letters,  (H  0  M  E)   pronounced 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  301 

aright,  cause  the  blood  to  flow  more  warmly  about  my 
heart,  and  a  chain  of  endearing  recollections  to  visit  my 
soul  in  a  manner  which,  in  spite  of  all  my  masculine 
powers  and  native  fortitude,  would  cause  the  briny  tear 
to  flow ;  and  then  ashamed  of  ray  childlike  weakness,  I 
have  mingled  with  the  crowd  and  wrapped  these  tender 
scenes  in  smiles,  to  hide  them  from  my  unfeeling  asso- 
ciates, who,  of  course,  would  only  mock  my  affection  if 
they  knew  it.  But  this  Monday  morning,  after  the  labors 
of  one  more  holy  Sabbath,  I  accept  the  pleasure  and  the 
duty  of  communicating  to  you  a  few  lines  to  feed  that 
sacred  fire  which  should  ever  burn  in  your  aftections 
toward  your  God,  your  duty,  and  me." 

Passages  like  these  reveal  unmistakably  a  serious 
depth  of  heart,  almost  wholly  unindicated  by  the  great 
self-control,  and  by  the  free  and  cheerful  manner  that 
shrouded  his  inmost  life  from  the  notice  and  perception 
of  the  world,  and  from  the  circle  also  of  acknowledged 
friends.     He  adds  :  — 

"  Nothing  but  duty  could  confine  me  to  this  city  the 
present  month,     I  am  in  hopes  to  get  time  to  spend  one 
day  with   Mr.  Bowman  in  the  country,  this  week.     I  ex- 
pect to  receive  several  members  next  Wednesday,  and 
•to  baptize  on  the  coming  Sabbath." 

Whilst  in  Boston,  Mr.  Badger  became  acquainted 
with  the  clergymen  of  other  denominations,  particu- 
larly with  Dr.  Ware,  Gannet  and  Tuckerman,  of  the 
Unitarian  faith,  of  whom  he  always  spoke  in  exalted 
terms.  His  acquaintance  and  intercourse  with  Ware 
and  Tuckerman  were  familiar ;  and  often  did  he  speak 


302  MEMOIR    OF 

of  the  divine  spirit  of  Henry  Ware,  and  of  the  be- 
nevolent heart  of  Mr.  Tuckerman.  Indeed,  at  one 
time  Mr.  Badger  thought  of  accepting  a  proposal  to 
join  Mr.  Tuckerman  in  his  missionary  labors  in  Boston, 
at  least,  so  far  did  he  think  of  it  as  to  consult  his 
family  on  the  propriety  of  accepting  the  unanimous 
call  of  the  Christian  Society*  in  Boston,  for  a  settle- 
ment of  three  or  five  years,  or  instead  of  this,  to  join 
Mr.  Tuckerman  in  his  missionary  labors,  with  a  per- 
manent settlement  and  a  thousand  or  twelve  hundred 
dollars  per  year.  For  a  work  like  this,  the  gathering 
in,  the  instruction  and  persuasion  to  virtue  and  reli- 
gion of  the  neglected  and  unprosperous  classes,  Mr. 
B.  had  extraordinary  gifts  ;  yet,  from  the  weight  of  con- 
siderations founded  chiefly  in  his  relations  to  his  home 
and  former  field  of  labor  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
neither  of  these  positions  was  accepted.  An  anec- 
dote somewhat  characteristic  of  the  man  was  lately" 
given  me  by  a  friend,  and  as  it  relates  to  extemporane- 
ous preaching,  I  will  transcribe  it. 

"  While  he  was  in  Boston,  he  occasionally  associated 
with  clergymen  of  the  Unitarian  denomination,  men  who 
were  perhaps  distinguished  above  the  average  of  minis- 
ters by  the  careful  and  elaborate  manner  in  which  they 
prepared  their  written  discourses.  One  day  he  was  ac- 
costed by  one  of  them  thus :  *  Mr.  Badger,  how  do  you 
manage  to  prepare  and  preach  so  many  sermons  ?  '  '  Why, 
sir,'  he  replied,  '  I  never  study  the  words  of  m}'-  sermons. 
I  study  ideas,  and  clothe  them  in  words  when  I  want 
them.' " 

*  His  answer  to  the  committee,  in  which  he  declines  their  invita- 
tion, is  dated  at  Boston,  August  14,  1828. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  303 

Before  me  lies  a  plain  12mo  Bible,  published  in 
1826,  on  whose  margins,  in  delicate  marks  and  letters, 
are  pointed  out  every  text  (and  the  day  of  its  use) 
that  he  spoke  from  during  his  ministry  in  Boston.  A 
simple  mark  declares  the  passage,  and  at  the  bottom 
or  top  of  the  page  the  date  is  seen,  so  that,  without 
any  journal,  a  clue  is  given  to  every  topic  of  his 
public  discoursing,  for  Jus  texts  very  generally  pointed 
out  his  subjects.  Whoever  will  look  over  this  book, 
could,  in  the  character  of  the  passages  chosen,  at 
once  see  that  Mr.  B.  had  a  practical  mind,  good  taste, 
and  knew  how  to  be  to  the  point  and  purpose.  His 
chosen  passages  are  full  of  expression.  These,  of 
course,  cannot  here  be  quoted,  but  a  list  of  these 
passages  written  out,  as  they  range  from  Genesis  to 
Revelation,  would.be  an  instruction  as  well  as  a  re- 
proof to  those  who  preach  from  irrelevant  and  inex- 
pressive passages  ;  and  they  would  likewise  form  a 
noble  chain  of  Scripture  gems.  A  man  shows  what 
is  characteristic  in  him  by  his  texts,  taken  as  a  whole, 
often  as  clearly  as  by  what  he  preaches. 

From  this  Bible,  which  does  not  strike  the  reader 
as  being  marked  up  so  as  to  mar  at  all  its  regular 
character,  I  learn  that  on  March  30th,  1828,  on  leav- 
ing the  flock  of  his  charge  to  remain  for  a  time  at 
Mendon,  his  three  sermons  were  from  the  following 
texts:  —  Job  19:  25:  'Tor  I  know  that  my  Re- 
deemer liveth,  and  he  shall  stand  at  the  latter  cIslj 
upon  the  earth."  John  16  :  22  :  "  And  ye  now  there- 
fore have  sorrow  :  but  I  will  see  you  again  and  your 
hearts  shall  rejoice,  and  your  joy  no  man  taketh  from 
you."     John  17  :  20,  21 :  "  Neither  pray  I  for  these 


304  MEMOIR    OF 

alone  :  but  for  them  also  which  shall  believe  on  me 
through  their  word,  that  they  all  may  be  one  ;  as  thou, 
Father,  art  irr  me,  and  I  in  thee  ;  that  they  also  may 
be  one  in  us  ;  that  the  world  may  believe  that  thou 
hast  sent  me."  Though  from  the  Old  Testament  he 
drew  many  passages,  and  from  Job,  the  Psalms, 
Proverbs  and  Isaiah  somewhat  freely,  it  is  from  the 
Gospels  and  the  Epistles  that  he  chiefly  made  his 
selections.  Some  of  his  texts  may  be  called  ingenious, 
requiring  a  free  play  of  analogy  to  set  them  forth,  as, 
for  instance,  Prov.  30  :  24-5-6-7-8,  preached  January 
20,  1828  :  "  There  be  four  things  which  are  little 
upon  the  earth,  but  they  are  exceeding  wise :  the  ants 
are  a  people  not  strong,  yet  they  prepare  their  meat 
in  the  summer ;  the  conies  are  but  a  feeble  folk,  yet 
make  their  houses  in  the  rocks  ;  the  locusts  have  no 
king,  yet  go  they  forth  all  of  them  by  bands  ;  the 
spider  takcth  hold  with  her  hands,  and  is  in  kings' 
palaces." 

From  the  same  source  we  learn  that,  on  the  first 
Sabbath  of  his  ministry  in  Boston,  September  30, 
1827,  he  spoke  from  Rev.  22  :  14,  James  1 :  17,  and 
Prov.  29 :  1 ;  his  valedictory  sermons  were  given 
September  14,  1828,  from  Psalms  46  :  4,  and  from 
Ecc.  11 :  9.  July  13, 1828,  he  spoke  from  Luke  19  : 
41 :  "  And  when  he  drew  near,  he  beheld  the  city  and 
wept  over  it."  December  9,  1827,  Psalms  133  :  1,  2, 
3  :  "  Behold  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for 
brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity !  It  is  like  the 
precious  ointment  upon  the  head  that  ran  down  upon 
the  beard,  even  Aaron's  beard  :  that  went  down  to 
the   skirts  of  his   garments  ;  as  the  dew  of  Hermon, 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  305 

and  as  the  dew  that  descended  upon  the  mountains  of 
Zion  :  for  there  the  Lord  commanded  the  blessing, 
even  life  forevermore."  But  the  only  sermon  written 
out  at  length  is  founded  on  two  words  found  in  James 
1 :  27,  "  Pure  Religion/'  and  was  deUvered  February 
10, 1828.    From  this  I  offer  the  following  paragraphs. 

"  Never  did  I  arise  in  this  congregation  under  a  greater 
sense  of  my  responsibility,  than  on  this  occasion.  Never 
did  I  come  before  you  with  a  subject  of  greater  magni- 
tude. Divest  religion  of  purity,  and  a  subject  of  horror, 
misery,  and  disgrace  is  presented.  Religion  has  been  the 
cause  of  wars  ;  has  divided  kingdoms  ;  has  imprisoned 
the  saints  ;  has  lighted  tho  fagots  about  the  disciples  of 
Jesus,  and  has  even  in  this  favored  city  banished  the 
Baptist  and  hung  the  humble  Quaker  ;  but  this  was  not 
the  religion  of  my  text.  But  turn  from  those  scenes  of 
superstition  and  misery,  and  add  to  religion  the  word 
pure,  and  all  is  changed  ;  all  is  meekness,  simplicity  and 
heaven.  The  horrors  of  death  are  dispelled,  a  world  of 
glory  and  immortality  is  opened  to  the  reflecting  soul  of 
man.  By  its  influence  the  sorrowful  widow  receives  com- 
fort, the  weeping  orphan  smiles,  circumstances  of  misfor- 
tune are  sanctified,  the  poor  are  enriched,  the  sick  are 
supported,  and  the  chamber  of  death  is  illuminated  with 
the  gracious  smiles  of  the  Son  of  God.  Pure  religion 
requires  no  fagot  to  light  it,  no  science  to  adorn  it,  no 
human  arm  to  defend  it,  and  no  carnal  weapon  to  enforce 
it." 

"  The  word  religion,  in  its  common  acceptation,  is  ap- 
plied to  the  four  great  bodies  of  worshippers  which  divide 
ou  world,  Jews,  Pagans,  Mohammedans,  and  Christians. 
The  Jews'  religion  embraces  a  belief  in  one  God  in  one 
person,  with  the  practice  of  those  legal  rites  enjoined  by 


306  MEMOIR    OF 

* 

the  law  of  Moses;  but  it  rejects  the  Messiah,  and  hopes 
in  one  jet  to  come.  The  Pagan  religion  embraces  all 
that  part  of  mankind  who  are  involved  in  the  worship  of 
idols.  The  Mohammedan  religion  .embraces  a  belief  in 
one  God,  and  in  Mahomet  as  his  Apostle ;  whilst  the 
word  Christian  is  applied  to  all  who  believe  that  Christ 
has  come  in  the  flesh,  which  includes  all  professed 
Christians." 

"  But  what  saith  the  Holj  Scriptures  ?  In  the  Bible 
the  word  occurs  but  five  times,  and  is  once  used  in  refer- 
ence to  'our  religion,*  (Acts  2C:  5);  twice  to  Jews' 
religion,  (Gal.  1 :  13,  14)  ;  and  once  to  *  vain  religion,' 
(James  1 :  26)  ;  and  once,  in  the  language  of  our  text,  to 
*  pure  religion.'  Thus  four  kinds  of  religion  are  men- 
tioned in  the  Bible,  and  but  one  of  them  is  good.  Four 
kinds  of  religion  are  found  in  the  world,  Jewish,  Pagan, 
Mohammedan,  Christian,  and  but  one  of  them  is  good. 
This  accords  with  the  parable  Jesus  spake  of  the  sower. 
The  good  seed  fell  on  four  kinds  of  ground,  the  wayside, 
among  thorns,  on  stony  ground,  on  good  ground ;  four 
kinds,  but  only  one  brings  forth  fruit.  So  '  our  religion,' 
'  Jews'  religion,'  and  *  vain  religion,'  bring  forth  no  ac- 
ceptable fruit  to  God ;  but  '  pure  religion '  is  like  the  good 
soil  which  brings  forth  '  some  thirty,  some  sixty,  and  some 
one  hundred  fold.'  Thus  do  the  facts  of  history  and  of 
Scripture  correspond." 

"  The  word  religion  means  to  hind,  as  it  puts  a  restraint 
upon  our  conduct  and  passions,  and  unites  the  soul  to 
God,  to  good  people  and  to  virtuous  actions.  Pure  re- 
ligion is  the  soul's  ornament ;  its  fruits  are  the  ornament 
of  the  life.  To  illustrate  this  subject  further,  I  shall  ex- 
plain pure  religion  to  be ;  first,  purity  of  spirit ;  second, 
kindness  and  benevolence  of  practice." 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  307 

After  portraying  the  Christian  spirit  as  one  of  meek- 
ness, as  merciful,  tender,  forgiving,  peaceful  and 
patient,  as  valiant,  as  charitable,  as  contented  and 
devout,  he  proceeds  to  show  the  practical  fruits  of  the 
spirit  he  has  portrayed  in  alleviating  the  sorrows  of 
life.  In  describing  pure  religion,  Mr.  Badger  sees  fit 
to  correct  the  following  error  :  — 

"  One  of  the  greatest  errors  which  has  ever  infested 
the  church  militant,  is  that  of  having  our  fellowship 
bounded  by  a  theory,  opinion,  or  creed.  While  this  exists, 
division,  misery  and  ruin  are  spread  through  all  the  flock 
of  God.  While  a  party  name  or  creed  is  valued  higher 
than  experience,  it  is  no  wonder  that  we  are  divided.  But 
whenever  the  scene  is  reversed,  when  rectitude  of  spirit 
and  practice  shall  outweigh  the  poor  inventions  of  men 
and  become  the  criterion  of  fellowship,  there  shall  then 
be  one  fold  and  one  shepherd  ;  watchmen  shall  see  eye  to 
eye,  and  the  people  shall  lift  up  their  voice  together. 

•"  "We '11  not  bind  a  brother's  conscience, 
This  alone  to  God  is  free  ; 
Nor  contend  for  non-essentials, 
But  in  Christ  united  be."  " 

After  speaking  of  the  kind  offices  which  Christian 
sympathy  extends  to  the  widow,  he  alludes  to  the 
fostering,  paternal  care  it  spreads  over  the  path  of  the 
orphan,  in  the  following  strain  :  — 

"  Again,  we  reflect  with  tender  sympathy  upon  the  case 
of  the  orphan  who  in  early  life  is  cut  off  from  the  instruc- 
tion and  care  of  its  fond  parents,  and  is  turned  into  the 
wide  world  without  education,  without  experience,  without 
friends,  without  bread  or  shelter.    What  a  world  of  misery, 


308  MEMOIR   OF 

deception  and  sin  he  is  left  in  !  What  snares  are  spread 
for  his  strolling  feet !  What  woes  for  his  expanding  soul ! 
The  provision  made  in  this  city  for  male  and  female  or- 
phans is  not  only  a  subject  of  admiration  and  praise  to  the 
good  of  every  class,  but  I  have  no  doubt  the  departed 
spirits  of  their  ancestors  and  parents  look  down  with  sat- 
isfaction and  joy  upon  the  benevolent  founders  of  those 
asylums,  that  are  now  the  living  monuments  of  Christ's 
spirit  on  earth ;  and  can  we  doubt  that  He  who  is  the 
orphan's  I'ather,  delights  in  these  institutions  and  in  the 
kind  and  fostering  care  now  extended  unto  them  ?  You 
cannot  imagine  the  pleasure  I  enjoy  while  on  my  way  to 
this  house.  Almost  every  Sabbath  I  meet  the  female  or- 
phans, who,  in  uniform,  follow  their  instructresses  to  the 
house  of  worship.  This  city,  I  am  happy  to  say,  not  only 
abounds  in  profession,  but  there  is  no  city  in  the  -world, 
of  its  population  and  ability,  which  abounds  more  in  works 
of  charity  and  benevolence.  The  friendship  and  kindness 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  are  proverbial  in  all  parts  of 
the  Union,  and  a  Bostonian  is  respected  throughout  the 
world." 

In  the  spring  and  summer  of  18o5,  which  the  writer 
of  this  memoir  passed  in  Boston,  'he  wq]1  remembers 
the  kind  tone  of  regard  in  which  Dr.  Tuckerman  uni- 
formly spoke  of  Mr.  Badger.  They  had  been  intimate 
friends,  had  conversed  often  on  the  present  imperfect 
state  of  society,  on  its  moral  and  temporal  evils,  and 
especially  on  the  best  ways  of  reaching  it  effectually 
with  the  saving  principles  of  Christianity,  for  both 
concurred  in  the  idea  which  may  be  called  invariably 
the  key-note  of  Mr.  Badger's  ministry,  that  the  Gospel 
of  Christ,  properly  understood  and  applied  to  life,  is 
the  only  science  of  human  happiness. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  309 

The  last  published  letter  of  Mr.  Badger  from  the 
field  he  at  this  time  occupied,  is  dated  Boston,  Sep- 
tember 16,  1852.     He  says  :  — 

**  Having  now  completed  three  months'  labor  in  this 
pleasant  city,  I  am  about  to  start  for  my  residence  again. 
My  visit  here  has  been  as  successful  as  could  be  expected 
under  present  circumstances  ;  each  month  has  added  some 
new  members  to  the  Church,  and  every  communion  has 
been  crowned  with  the  Lord's  presence.  *  The  little  oppo- 
sition party'  who  were  drawn  off  from  this  church  three 
years  ago,  who  have  been  much  engaged  to  slander  and 
revile  the  society,  as  well  as  many  useful  minister^  and 
other  churches  and  conferences  in  the  connection,  have, 
finally,  so  far  lost  what  little  influence  they  had,  that 
nothing  now  is  to  be  feared  from  them." 

"  But  there  is  still  another  class  of  disorganizers  in  the 
land,  and  not  a  few  in  this  city,  who  deny  that  the  Bible 
is  a  sufficient  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  who  ridicule  the 
ordinances  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  who  despise 
church  order  and  a  preached  Gospel,  unless  it  is  accommo- 
dated to  their  poor,  frail,  weak,  and  changeable  imagina- 
tions. They  also  pretend  to  great  revelations,  which  fills 
them  with  self-righteousness  and  prepares  them  to  pass 
judgment  on  all  their  fellow-Christians  who  have  the  mis-^ 
fortune  to  differ  from  their  notions.  How  often  we  see  the 
basest  principle  of  pride  in  the  garb  of  singularity,  slovenly 
idleness,  and  in  what  the  apostle  calls  a  voluntary  humil- 
ity. The  church  in  all  ages  has  been  tempted  by  conflicts 
from  without,  and  unholy  and  unreasonable  persons  of 
their  own  number,  but  happy  are  they  who  endure  hard- 
ness as  good  soldiers,  and  are  overcomers  through  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb  and  the  word  of  their  testimony  ;  and  it 
is  throuGfh  ojreat  tribulation  that  we  enter  into  Heaven." 


810  MEMOIR    OF 

"  During  my  stay  here  I  have  made  two  visits  to  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire,  both  of  which  were  interesting. 
My  native  State  is  still  favored  with  mercy-drops.  Many 
of  the  old  saints  are  strong  and  valiant  for  the  truth,  and 
in  several  places  are  prospects  of  revivals.  My  last  visit, 
which  was  to  the  town  of  Mason,  and  county  of  Hillsbor- 
ough, was  under  peculiar  circumstances  and  pleasing  and 
flattering  prospects.  Mason  has  long  been  a  stronghold 
of  orthodoxy.  No  dissenter  from  that  doctrine  had  ever 
preached  in  the  place  ;  but  a  few  respectable  men  who 
liad  become  enlightened  by  reading  the  Scripture  and  our 
periodicals,  were  resolved  to  hear  the  '  sect  which  is 
everywhere  spoken  against,'  for  themselves.  Accordingly, 
one  of  their  number  was  despatched  to  Boston,  forty-eight 
miles,  to  engage  me  to  visit  them.  From  this  represent- 
ation I  concluded  to  go,  as  Peter  did  among  the  Gentiles, 
not  conferring  with  flesh  and  blood.  I  found  on  my  ar- 
rival, September  11,  a  decent  assembly  convened  at  the 
Presbyterian  meeting-house,  who  were  very  attentive  to 
hear  the  word.  I  gave  another  appointment  in  the  even- 
ing, and  found  the  attention  of  the  people  still  increasing. 
At  the  intermission,  and  after  sermon,  late  at  night,  and 
in  the  morning,  many  strangers  flocked  around  me  to 
make  inquiry,  to  state  their  feelings,  and  to  manifest  the 
great  pleasure  they  had  in  the  increasing  light,  and  in  the 
truths  proclaimed.  While  I  saw  their  prospect  of  im- 
provement and  deep  attention,  I  almost  forgot  the  fatigues 
of  the  day  and  night,  though  they  passed  heavily  ;  I  had 
journeyed  fifty  miles,  preached  at  4  P.  M.,  one  hour  and  a 
half;  in  the  evening  two  long  hours  ;  I  had  conversed  un- 
til twelve  at  night,  when  the  mind  became  so  full  that 
sleep  departed  until  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
Here  are  gentlemen  of  talents  and  property  who  are  lib- 
eral-minded   Christians.     They  say,  when  in   the  judg- 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  311 

ment  of  our  ministry  it  is  prudent  to  make  a  stand  there, 
a  meeting-house  shall  be  immediately  built,  and  some  are 
about  ready  to  be  baptized.  I  have  written  to  Mr.  H. 
Plummer,  on  the  case  of  the  people  here  ;  and  hope  they 
will  be  noticed  by  the  preachers  of  New  England." 

His  next  paragraph,  which  emphatically  repeats 
sentiments  not  as  yet  quoted  in  this  book,  but  published 
as  early  as  1817,  embraces  a  topic  of  so  much  im- 
portance to  the  permanent  power  and  respectability  of 
church  institutions,  that  I  call  to  it  a  distinct  attention. 
After  speaking  of  the  importance  of  introducing  the 
new  and  liberal  sentiments  into  places  that  have  never 
heard  them  proclaimed,  in  a  manner  that  shall  make 
the  best  impression,  that  is,  through  the  agency  of  able 
and  efficient  speakers,  he  proceeds  to  say :  — 

"  I  am  decidedly  opposed  to  the  hasty  constitution  of 
churches.  No  church,  in  my  opinion,  should  be  acknowl- 
edged until  there  are  numbers,  talents,  and  strength  suf- 
ficient to  keep  a  regular  meeting  on  the  Sabbath ;  also 
there  should  be  a  prospect  of  stated  preaching.  I  rec- 
ommend that  these  brethren  at  Mason  be  baptized  and 
stand  either  in  their  individual  capacity,  or  be  associated 
with  the  church  at  Boston,  or  Haverhill.  We  have  al- 
ready taken  possession  of  more  ground  than  we  can  cul- 
tivate to  advantage,  and  I  see  no  way  for  our  vacant  con- 
gregations to  be  supplied  but  by  an  evangelizing  ministry." 

Mr.  Badger  closes  this  letter  by  saying  that  his 
numerous  engagements  would  prevent  him  from  ful- 
filling his  appointment  at  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
where  he  had  been  solicited  to  meet  again  the  throngs 


312  MEMOIR    OF 

of  people  who  had,  in  other  years,  listened  to  his  voice 
in  the  calm  and  tranquil  forest,  where,  to  use  his  own 
words,  thej  had  formerly  "  felt  and  seen  the  power 
and  influence  of  truth."  From  his  notes,  and  some 
social  parties  he  attended  in  Boston,  it  is  perceived 
that  he  had  a  sympathizing  interest  in  the  struggles 
and  sufierings  of  the  noble  Greeks,  who  were  then 
aiming  at  freedom  and  self-government.  During  the 
year  of  his  Boston  ministry,  he  preached  on  a  great 
variety  of  subjects,  attended  several  funerals,  baptized 
many  believers,  and  solemnized  many  marriages.  Like 
St.  Paul,  he  was  ever  abundant  in  labors.  With  the 
society  over  which  he  had  presided.  Rev.  I.  C.  Goff 
remained.  September  17,  1828,  he  took  of  the  good 
city  his  final  leave,  of  whose  citizens,  customs,  liter- 
ature, and  general  character,  he  always  afterward 
spoke  in  the  most  respectful  terms,  in  a  manner  ex- 
pressive of  agreeable  memories. 


REV.   JOSEPK   BADGER.  313 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

FOUR  months'  labor  in  the  couxties  of  oxondaga 

AND  CAYUGA,  NEW  YORK,  IN  1828  AND  1829,  WITH 
OTHER  PARTS  OF  UIS  PUBLIC  LIFE,  EXTENDING  TO 
MAY,  1832. 

December,  1828,  Mr.  Bcadger  accepted  a  field  of 
labor,  for  about  four  months,  in  the  counties  of  Onon- 
daga and  Cajuga,  New  York.  His  peculiar  abilities 
were  needed  to  revive  and  strengthen  the  churches, 
"whose  wants  at  that  time  were  greater  than  could  be 
supplied  hy  the  ministers  who  lived  in  that  section. 
In  the  town  of  Brutus  (since  called  Sennett),  in 
Camillus  and  other  towns  of  that  region,  he  had 
preached  frequently  in  former  years.  In  the  former 
town,  Elijah  Shaw  had  been  very  successful  in  his 
ministerial  labors;  and  throughout  all  that  country 
generally.  Rev.  0.  E.  INIorrill,  whose  happy  and  popu- 
lar gifts  ahvays  made  him  a  favorite  with  the  people, 
had  preached  much,  and  wielded  a  great  influence  in 
behalf  of  liberal  sentiments.  But  Mr.  Shaw  had  moved 
to  New  England  ;  Mr.  M.  was  unable  to  meet  the  many 
calls  for  assistance,  and  the  greatness  of  the  harvest 
seemed  to  demand  additional  laborers. 

His  plan  of  action  covered  a^  somewhat  extended 
field,  though  his  regular  appointments  were  at  Sennett, 
Cayuga,  and  at  Lysanderand  Canton,  Onondaga.  At 
times  he  spoke  at  Cato,  Baldwins ville,  Jericho,  Van 
Buren,  Camillus,  Elbridge,  Weedsport,  and  other 
14 


314  MEMOIR    OP 

places  ;  yet  he  so  centralized  his  labor  and  influence  as 
to  make  them  effectual  at  the  desired  points.  Besides 
his  Sabbath  services,  it  is  said  that  he  generally 
preached  every  evening  in  the  week  except  on  Mon- 
days and  Saturdays.  As  usual,  his  congregations 
were  generally  large  and  attentive,  and  his  advocacy 
of  liberal  and  evangelical  sentiments  was  indeed  form- 
idable to  all  who  were  opposed.  It  could  not  be  other- 
wise than  a  result  of  his  independent  course,  that 
controversy,  more  or  less,  should  be  awakened  by  his 
ministry.  lie  boldly  stated  his  views,  and  never 
shrunk  from  the  controversial  discussion  of  them  when- 
ever a  man  of  character  and  ability  ventured  to  en- 
counter him  with  the  tests  of  Scripture  and  reason. 
Accordingly,  these  manly  collisions  of  intellect  on 
theological  questions  form  a  very  observable  part  of  his 
public  life.  In  the  field  he  now  occupied,  he  had  two 
public  discussions ;  one  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Baker,  at 
Ionia,  an  eloquent  Methodist  minister ;  another  with 
Rev.  Mr.  Stowe,  a  learned  clergyman  of  the  Presby- 
terian sect,  at  Elbridge,  though  with  the  latter  it  was 
conducted  through  the  medium  of  letters,  of  which  Mr. 
S.  wrote  only  a  small  part,  so  that  perhaps  it  cannot 
be  called  a  debate  sb  properly  as  a  discussion. 

Mr.  Baker  was  confident  of  success,  not  having 
taken  the  measure  of  the  man  he  was  to  encounter. 
The  form  of  their  controversy  .on  the  supreme  Deity 
of  Jesus,  was  to  be  the  delivery  of  a  sermon  each  to 
the  samii  audience  on  the  same  evening  ;  they  met  to 
settle  preliminaries  late  in  the  afternoon.  Mr.  Badger, 
by  his  careless  ease,  his  deference  and  reserve  of 
power,   managed  to   give    his   opponent   an  inferior 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  315 

opinion  of  his  own  capacity,  wliilst  he  studied  closely 
the  temper  and  quality  of  his  antap;onist.  This  he 
always  did  before  he  ventured  upon  warfare.  He 
would  draw  out  tlie  resources  of  his  opponent  and  re- 
serve his  own.  lie  always  held  that  in  oral  contro- 
versy, in  the  form  of  sermons,  it  was  a  desirable 
advantage  to  speak  first,  for  two  reasons.  1st.  The 
attention  of  the  people  is  then  unwearied,  and  their 
minds  are  fresh.  2d.  The  speaker  has  the  opportunity 
to  anticipate  the  arguments  of  his  opponent  and  to 
answer  them,  thereby  depriving  them  of  power  before 
his  adversary  has  used  them.  He  cared  not  who  had 
the  last  speech,  provided  ho  could  have  the  first. 
Apparently  indifferent  to  the  result,  he  offered  Mr. 
Baker  the  choice  of  time,  who  allowed  Mr.  Badger  to 
speak  first,  thinking  that  the  greater  advantage  be- 
longs to  the  last  word.  No  limit  of  time  was  set  for 
either  speaker.  They  appeared  at  early  evening  be- 
fore a  large  assembly.  Mr.  Badger  arose  and  an- 
nounced for  his  text  1  Cor.  1  :  4  :  ''  Is  Christ  divided  ?  " 
a  text  which  struck  at  the  artificial  division  of  his 
nature  and  being,  made  by  those  who  affirm  that  he  is 
at  the  same  time  perfect  God  and  perfect  man.  Mr. 
Badger  spoke  between  two  and  three  hours  to  the 
most  perfectly  attentive  audience,  in  which  time  he 
stated  and  met  all  the  strong  arguments  that  -were 
likely  to  be  arrayed  against  him,  and  urged  in  clear 
and  lucid  statements  the  evidences  for  his  own  position. 
I  find  in  the  plots  of  his  controversial  sermons,  that  he 
carried  on  usually  a  double  work,  giving,  as  he  pro- 
ceeded, alternately  his  own  view  and  its  evidence,  then 
examining  the  opposition  and  its  proof,  then  returning 


316  MEMOIR    OP 

to  the  further  statement  of  his  own  opinions  and 
their  evidences,  and  again  exploding  the  usual  argu- 
ments of  the  opposite  side,  ending  always  with  positive 
views.  In  this  debate  he  thoroughly  achieved  his  aim. 
He  so  broke  the  weapons  of  his  adversary  that  he 
could  not  rally  to  his  use  his  accustomed  strength. 
During  Mr.  Badger  s  long  discourse,  Mr.  Baker  would 
occasionally  look  at  his  watch  and  remind  him  that 
time  is  short,  to  whose  impatience  he  once  replied, 
"  Be  patient.  Brother  Baker,  I  have  much  yet  to  say ; 
this  is  only  the  beginning  of  sorrows."  It  is  certain 
that  parties  arc  usually  biased  in  regard  to  the  merits 
of  controversies  in  which  their  peculiar  doctrines  are 
discussed ;  but  from  such  recollections  of  this  debate 
as  community  possessed  in  183-1  and  1835,  I  unhesi- 
tatingly say  that  but  one  opinion  prevailed,  which  was, 
that  Mr.  Badger  was  plainly  victorious. 

His  letters  to  Mr.  Stowe,  which  originated  in  a  mis- 
representation of  views  made  in  the  puljjit  of  Mr.  S., 
were  published  in  the  Gospel  Luminary  of  1829. 
They  were  strong  and  able  papers  ;  and  it  is  evident 
from  a  letter  in  my  possession  from  the  hand  of  Mr. 
S.,  that  he  carefully  sought  to  evade  any  public  con- 
tact of  mental  forces  with  Mr.  B.  on  the  subjects  of 
difference  between  them. 

During  the  several  months  which  he  passed  in  these 
counties,  he  performed  a  large  amount  of  labor,  called 
out  an  interest  which  was  by  no  means  limited  by  the 
extent  of  his  own  denomination,  and  the  churches  were 
strengthened  and  refreshed.  His  influence  was  always 
creativ^e.  But  even .  when  he  added  no  numerical 
strength  to  his  cause,  a  thing  which  we  are  not  sure 


REV.    JOSErn    BADGER.  317 

ever  happened  under  Lis  active  ministry,  he  had  an 
uncommon  ability  to  inspire  the  men  and  -women  al- 
ready marshalled  under  free  principles,  with  new  con- 
fidence in  what  they  could  do  were  they  to  try ;  and 
what  is  kindred  to,  but  still  a  Httle  higher  than  this, 
he  had  a  particular  faculty  to  bring  them  to  the  point 
of  action  ;  could  persuade  them  to  begin  and  to  prose- 
cute enterprises  that  they  ordinarily  might  simply  talk 
about,  delay,  and  neglect.  At  Sennett,  he  pursuaded 
the  people  to  attempt  the  building  of  a  church  ;  he 
organized  the  society,  selected  the  location,  and  put 
things  in  active  course  for  the  completion  of  the  enter- 
prise. Between  the  villages  of  Canton  and  Ionia 
stands  a  commodious  chapel,  which,  through  the  gener- 
ous sacrifices  of  a  few  men,  and  the  cooperative 
action  of  others,  was  built  and  dedicated  to  the  service 
of  Almighty  God  January  2G,  1830.  This  chapel  also 
was  started  and  went  up  at  the  time  it  did  through  the 
leading,  managing  influence  of  Mr.  Badger.  But 
events  of  this  kind  were  very  common  in  his  ministry, 
as  he  was  in  the  habit  of  studying  closely  the  strength 
of  the  cause  he  plead,  and  of  enlisting  into  decisive 
action  the  ability  of  his  friends  in  its  furtherance. 
January  23,  1830,  he  preached  the  dedication  sermon 
of  a  beautiful  church  in  Lysander,  Onondaga  County, 
New  York,  where  he  had  regularly  preached  in  the 
winter  of  1829.  Text  was  Ps.  126  :  3 :  "  The  Lord 
hath  done  great  things  for  us ;  whereof  we  are  glad." 
He  also  preached  the  dedication  sermon  of  the  church 
in  Sennett.  At  Canton,  the  Christian  Chapel  was 
open  for  worship  January  26,  1830.  From  the  pen  of 
Rev.  David  "Millard,  who  gave  the  sermon  on  that  oc- 
casion, I  extract  the  following  lines  :  — 


518  MEMOIR    OF 

"This  is  the  second  chapel  erected  in  Onondaga  county 
for  the  use  of  the  people  called  Christians.  The  build- 
ing is  neat,  plain,  and  commodious.  The  labors  of  Rev. 
O.  E.  Morrill  have  been  devoted  to  that  region  of  coun- 
try for  nine  years  past,  and  have  been  much  owned  and 
blessed  of  God.  About  one  year  ago,  Rev.  J.  Badger 
spent  several  months  in  that  section,  and  was  much 
blessed  in  preaching  the  word.  His  labors  contributed 
largely  towards  tlie  building  of  the  two  chapels  we  have 
just  named,  (Lysander  and  Canton,)  and  also  of  another 
in  the  town  of  Sennctt,  Cayuga  County,  not  yet  completed. 
The  cause  of  liberal  Christianity  was  never  more  pros- 
perous in  that  part  of  the  country  than  now."  * 

There  iN'as  indeed  ability  in  favor  of  liberal  views 
through  that  country,  ability  of  long  standing  ;  but  we 
think  it  just  to  the  memory  of  Mr.  Badger  to  say  that, 
during  his  labors  in  that  region,  his  creative  mind  was 
prommcnt  in  giving  to  that  ability  the  form  of  active, 
prosperous  enterprise  in  the  respects  here  spoken  of. 

November,  1830.  From  the  Valley  of  Repose,! 
he  writes  : 

"  Since  my  last,  I  have  visited  many  places  in  this 
part  of  the  State,  and  am  happy  to  find  that  the  cause  of 
Christian  liberty  is  gradually  advancing,  though  oppo- 
sition attends  every  step  that  is  taken.  In  Rochester,  a 
Unitarian  society  has  been  raised.  Mr.  AV.  AVare,  of 
New  York  city,  was  the  first  minister  of  that  order  who 
ever  preached  there.  His  preaching  was  like  Paul's,  at 
Athens  ;  it  made  no  small  stir.  Many  were  alarmed  for 
their  favorite  dogmas ;  for  his  three  sermons  gave  the 

*  Gospel  Luminary,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  95. 

t  The  name  of  his  residence  in  Meadon. 


KEV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  319 

doctrine  of  the  Trinity  a  deadly  blow.  lie  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Green,  of  Massachusetts,  who  is  an  eloquent  man, 
and,  like  Apollos,  mighty  in  the  Scriptures.  He  left, 
after  a  stay  of  three  months,  for  Cincinnati.  I  am  in- 
formed they  are  now  supplied  by  two  young  men  from 
Boston,  who  have  my  best  wishes  for  their  success. 
Though  these  men  have  encountered  much  opposition,  a 
spirit  of  inquiry  and  a  love  of  liberal  Christianity  are  im- 
parted from  their  faithful  labors,  which  will  live  among 
the  citizens  of  Rochester  in  spite  of  the  influence  of  super- 
stitious sectarians.  Though  they  are  a  distinct  sect  from 
the  Christians,  their  labors  go  to  promote  the  same  great 
principles  of  liberty,  and  their  enemies  and  ours  are  the 
same." 

In  Cayuga  County,  he  speaks  of  the  labors  of  Mor- 
rill and  Coburn  as  successful ;  of  passing  through 
Montgomery,  Delaware,  Green  and  Dutchess  Coun- 
ties ;  of  standing  by  the  grave  of  his  worthy  early- 
associate  in  the  ministry,  John  L.  Peavy,  at  Milan ; 
of  thinking  of  his  many  associates  who  now  sleep  in  the 
grave  ;  —  men  cut  off  in  the  midst  of  their  useful 
labors.  Taking  with  him,  from  Green  County,  a  young 
man  by  the  name  of  Joseph  Marsh,  he  returned  to 
Mendon,  October  2d. 

In  the  autumn  of  1880,  his  visit  to  Lewisburg,  Pa., 
is  thus  spoken  of  by  Rev.  J.  J.  Harvey,  in  a  recent 
letter  to  Mrs.  Badger;  — 

*'  His  congregations  were  large  and  attentive.  The 
sects  cried  out  against  him  and  his  doctrine.  Being 
young,  and  liberal  in  my  feelings,  I  was  induced,  by  the 
opposition  raised  against  this   '  great  Unitarian  heretic, 


320  MEMOIR    OP 

as  his  enemies  styled  him,  to  go  and  hear  for  myself. 
From  the  course  pursued  on  both  sides,  I  soon  became  a 
regular  hearer,  and  found  my  feelings  strongly  interested 
in  favor  of  the  persecuted  party.  Among  others,  he 
preached  one  discourse  on  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity. 
This  was  fortunate  for  me,  because  he  removed  from  my 
mind  the  infidelity  into  which  the  popular  teaching  among 
the  Methodists  and  Presbyterians  had  well-nigh  driven 
me.  I  never  could  understand,  and  therefore  could  not 
believe,  their  irrational  and  unscriptural  preaching  on 
this  subject ;  I  was,  therefore,  on  the  verge  of  rejecting 
the  Bible  in  toto.  But,  by  clear  exhibitions  of  truth,  Mr. 
Badger  convinced  me  of  the  scriptural  and  the  reasonable 
doctrine  of  one  God,  and  of  one  Mediator  between  God 
and  men  ;  and  on  that  subject  I  have  never  since  had  a 
doubt." 

From  this  place  he  proceeded  to  Milford,  New  Jer- 
sey, to  attend  the  theological  debate  held  in  that  town, 
December,  1830,  between  Rev.  William  McCalla,  of 
Philadelphia,  and  Rev.  Wm.  Lane,  of  Ohio,  on  the 
question — "Is  the  man  Christ  Jesus  the  supreme 
and  eternal  God?"  of  which  Mr.  McCalla  had  the 
affirmative,  and  Mr.  Lane  the  negative.  This  discuss- 
ion, attended  by  a  large  concourse,  and  on  the  fourth 
daj  abandoned  by  tlie  former  gentleman,  in  the  words, 
"  I  relinquish  this  debate  forever,"  was  one  in  -which 
Mr.  Badger  took  a  deep  interest.  He  was  one  of  the 
Board  of  Moderators ;  and,  with  his  peculiar  facility 
at  management,  he  succeeded,  during  the  early  stage 
of  the  debate,  in  getting  Mr.  McCalla  and  Rev.  S. 
Clough  into  a  contract  for  a  new  discussion  of  the 
same  question,  at  the  city  of  New  York,  at  a  subse- 


REV.   JOSErn   BADGER.  321 

qnent  time,  a  contract  -which  Mr.  ^McCalla,  on  the 
fourth  day  of  the  debate,  took  from  his  pocket,  and 
tore  into  pieces  in  the  presence  of  the  great  assembly, 
as  significant  of  his  intention  not  to  carry  out  the  pur- 
pose therein  expressed.  The  coolness,  foresight,  and 
shrewdness  of  Mr.  Badger  on  all  such  occasions  were 
strong  and  serviceable  traits. 

He  spent  the  principal  part  of  1831  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  residence,  in  which  time  additions  were  made 
to  his  society,  which  then  was  in  a  state  of  prosperity. 
From  special  request  he  visited  Stafford,  Genesee 
County,  where,  fourteen  years  before,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  Elder  Levi  Hathaway,  he  had  organized  a 
small  church  of  eleven  ;  a  reformation  immediately  be- 
gan, which,  in  the  language  of  Mr.  D.  Millard,  "  was 
one  of  the  most  glorious  revivals  ever  experienced  in 
that  region  of  country.  "Within  a  few  months,  he 
baptized,  in  Stafford,  not  far  from  fifty,"  about  half 
of  whom  were  young  men  of  talent.  Under  date  of 
October  12,  1831,  Mr.  Badger  writes  :  -\  . 

"  It  is  now  nearly  twenty  years  since  I  engaged  in  the 
great  and  responsible  work  of  preaching  the  Gospel.  I 
regret  that  I  did  not  engage  in  that  work  earlier,  and 
that  I  have  been  no  more  successful.  But,  with  all  my 
lack  of  qualifications,  I  have  every  year  had  something 
to  encourage  me;  I  have  baptized  about  one  thousand 
persons ;  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  twelve  of  that 
number  become  useful  mhiisters  of  the  Gospel,  and  many 
have  finished  their  pilgrimage  on  earth  with  joy.  Of 
late,  I  have  been  more  than  ever  encouraged,  and,  not- 
withstanding my  embarrassment  on  account  of  ill  health, 
my  spirit  is  alive  to  the  good  work,  and  my  heart  is  warm 
14* 


322  MEMOIR    OF 

to  tlie  interests  of  Zion.  The  churcli  at  Lakeville,  Liv- 
ingston County,  has  also  been  blessed  of  late.  I  have, 
within  a  short  time,  baptized  six  persons  there.  In  Tomp- 
kins County,  our  brethren  have  been  abundantly  favored 
■with  revivals.  In  Cayuga  County,  also,  the  cause  is 
prospering.  Elder  Morrill  has  had  an  addition  to  the 
churches  of  his  care  of  about  eighty  members,  this  year." 

"  Several  of  our  brethren  in  this  country  have,  the  pres- 
ent season,  finished  their  course  in  this  world.  "We  have 
taken  sweet  counsel  with  them  ;  we  have  joined  them  in 
commemorating  the  love  and  suffering  of  the  lowly  Jesus  ; 
we  have  mingled  with  them  in  songs  of  praise  and  sweet 
devotion  on  earth,  and  now  look  up  with  trembling  confi- 
dence and  cheerful  hope  to  the  time  when  we  shall  be 
permitted  to  join  them  with  improved  capacities,  in  an 
immortal  song  of  praise  to  God  and  the  Lamb  in  heaven." 

On  March  27th,  ho  attended  the  funeral  of  Mrs. 
Thomas  Pease,  of  Rochester,  one  in  whom  the  Chris- 
tian virtue^\rere  said  to  have  shone  with  mild  and 
constant  brilliancy.     Speaking  of -this  event,  he  says  : 

"  While  I  sat  by  the  bed-side  of  my  emaciated  friend, 
and  saw  her  health,  her  beauty,  and  relish  for  life  gone, 
and  the  strong  attachment  of  friends  presenting  their  last 
claims  to  a  heart  which  had  always  responded  in  emotions 
of  kindest  friendship,  but  which  could  respond  no  longer, 
I  heard  her  in  a  low  whisper  say,  *  Oh  Lord,  grant  me 
thy  smiles  and  thy  presence,  and  I  ask  no  more.'  Here, 
said  I,  I  see  the  end  of  all  perfection.  Oh  God,  '  Let  me 
die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like 
bis.' 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER. 

"After  I  left  she  appeared  much  revived  in  spirit,  an^ 
made  choice  of  the  text  on  which  I  should  preach  at  her 
funeral,  which  was  John  14:  2:  'In  my  Father's  house 
are  many  mansions  :  if  it  were  not  so  I  would  have  told 
you.  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you.'  How  delightful 
to  see  a  child  of  God  looking  up  from  the  verge  of  the 
grave  to  those  mansions  which  Christ  has  gone  to  prepare 
for  his  children." 


CHAPTER   XVII. 


EDITORIAL    LIFE. 


Believing  In  the  power  of  the  press  as  one  of  the 
strongest  agents  which,  for  weal  or  for  wo,  is  ever 
brought  to  bear  on  the  thoughts,  consciences,  and  out- 
ward destinies  of  men,  Mr.  Badger  and  his  associates 
resolved  on  the  employment  of  this  agency  for  the  up- 
building of  faith,  for  the  free  investigation  of  Christian 
theology,  and  for  the  furtherance  of  wider  views  of 
Christian  brotherhood  than  had  ever  obtained  under 
the  reign  of  stern,  sectarian  dogma.  The  "  Gospel 
Luminary,"  started  at  West  Bloomfield,  in  1825,  had 
been,  in  1827,  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
though  ably  conducted  in  the  main,  the  feeling  became 
strong  and  general  in  the  State  of  New  York,  that 
something  more  perfectly  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the 
people  could  be  issued ;  accordingly  the  "  Genesee 
Christian  Association,"  compose  of  dsome  of  the  most 


324  MEMOIR    OP 

experienced  ministers  and  competent  men,  was  organ- 
ized December,  1831,  with  a  constitution  and  officers, 
for  the  purpose  of  publishing,  purchasing,  selhng  and 
distributing  such  books  and  publications  as  the  wants 
of  the  Christian  Connection  should,  in  their  judgment, 
require  ;  also  to  assist  young  men  in  the  ministry  with 
libraries  and  such  other  means  of  improvement  as 
might  be  Avithin  their  power  ;  and  especially  did  they 
contemplate,  as  their  first  work,  the  establishment  of  a 
periodical  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  whose  objects  were 
announced  to  be  the  vindication  and  dissemination  of 
Gospel  truth,  the  development  of  the  ability  of  young 
men  in  the  department  of  writing,  and  the  promotion 
of  a  faith  which  should  be  at  the  same  time  scriptural, 
liberal,  rational,  and  evangelical.  Of  this  new  monthly 
periodical,  D.  Millard,  0.  E.  Morrill  and  Asa  Chapin, 
were  the  Executive  Committee,  and  J.  Badger,  Editor. 
A  prospectus  for  this  work,  called  the  "  Christian 
Palladium,"  a  name  sacred  to  liberty  and  its  defence, 
was  issued  by  Mr.  Badger,  January,  1832,  in  which 
he  says :  — 

"  The  prominent  objects  of  this  work  will  be  the  de- 
fence of  the  Scripture  doctrine  of  one  God  and  one 
Mediator,  the  vindication  of  free  and  liberal  Christianity, 
the  right  of  private  judgment  in  religion,  and  the  suffi- 
ciency of  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  a  perfect  system  of  church 
polity.  In  the  dissemination  of  those  sacred  principles, 
it  will  seek  no  alliance  wi'^h  prescriptive  sectarianism,  nor 
will  it  bow  to  the  ipsi  dixerunt  of  fallible  men,  or  ascribe 
holiness  to  any  human  creed  whatever.  While  it  incul- 
cates Christianity  as  it  is,  it  will  endeavor  to  show  what 
its  votaries  should  be ;  and  while  it  advocates  holy  truth, 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  325 

it  shall  breathe  the  benign  spirit  of  Ilim  who  is  the  way, 
the  truth,  and  the  life.  AVliile  it  will  urge  the  necessity 
of  vital  piety  and  holiness  of  heart,  it  shall  also  show  that 
these  sacred  principles  directly  tend  to  the  union  of  Christ's 
spiritual  body,  which  is  the  Church.  In  a  word,  it  is  not 
to  be  a  sectarian  engine,  but  a  free  vehicle  of  general 
Christian  intelligence." 

On  the  next  page,  which  contains  his  address  to 
agents,  he  says,  that  '•  the  time  when  the  friends  of 
religious  liberty  and  impartial  investigation  of  Gospel 
truth,  should  adopt  every  laudable  measure  to  further 
those  important  and  benevolent  objects,  has  unquestion- 
ably arrived  ;  "  and  May  1,  1832,  witnessed  the  circu- 
lation of  the  first  number  of  his  monthly,  a  neat 
pamphlet  of  21  pages,  in  goodly  attire,  and  in  excel 
Icnce  of  mechanical  execution  far  in  advance,  we  should 
say,  of  any  printing  we  have  recently  seen  from  that 
city.  In  a  letter  addressed  to  a  meeting  of  pioneers, 
held  in  Rochester,  October,  1848,  to  which  he  was 
invited,  he  claimed  to  have  caused  the  publication  of 
of  the  first  book*  printed  in  that  place,  when  Rochester 
was  only  a  prosperous  village. 

This  new  era,  as  we  may  call  it,  in  the  public  life  of 
Mr.  Badger,  though  it  brought  great  responsibilities 
in  which  he  had  no  previous  experience,  found  him  an 
easy  master  of  its  difficulties.  His  qualifications  for 
an  editor  were,  an  intuitive  and  accurate  perception  of 
the  character  of  the  class  of  readers  to  whom  his  labors 


*  Bible  Doctrine  of  God,  Jesus  Christ,  the  Holy  Spirit,  Atonement 
and  Faith  ;  to  which  is  prefixed  au  Essay  on  Natural  Theology  and 
the  Truth  of  Revelation.     By  Wm.  Kinkade.    Revised  by  J.  Badger. 


326  MEMOIR    OF 

belonged  —  a  quick  recognition'  of  whatever  might 
serve  to  enrich  his  pages  from  the  communications  of 
his  correspondents,  from  pubhcations,  and  books ;  a 
business  tact  rarely  equalled,  which  gave  system  and 
order  to  every  department  of  duty  in  his  office  ;  and 
to  these  I  will  add  two  other  qualities  that  in  him  were 
exceedingly  prominent,  namely,  the  power  to  write 
pages  that  were  full  of  original  force,  nerve,  life  and 
freshness ;  and  to  call  out  the  ability  of  other  minds, 
which  he  could  turn  to  his  own  account.  He  had  great 
facility  in  inspiring  ordinary  men,  obscure  in  life,  with 
the  belief  that  they  could  write,  and  often  from  such 
did  he  get  rich  and  useful  gems.  Ilis  genius  could 
make  writers,  and  many  from  his  encouragements,  and 
from  the  practice  of  writing  for  his  paper,  did  become 
masters  of  a  strong  and  pointed  style,  of  which  they 
need  never  be  ashamed.  No  other  man  among  reli- 
gious editors  could,  we  believe,  get  as  much  good  ma- 
terial from  uneducated  and  undisciplined  sources  as  he. 
In  his  May  number  he  addressed  his  readers  in  the 
following  strain :  — 

"The  present  is  an  era  of  light,  and  a  day  peculiar  to 
prophetic  fulfihnent.  Never  was  there  a  time  when  the 
soldiers  of  the  Cross  could  look  forward  to  brighter  pros- 
pects, and  never  a  day  when  victory  over  the  powers  of 
darkness  was  more  certain.  The  rapid  increase  of  Gospel 
light,  the  spread  of  pure  religion,  a  submission  to  the  doc- 
trine of  the  Scriptures,  in  preference  of  man-made  creeds, 
and  the  spirit  of  reciprocal  love  and  Christian  forbearance 
among  free  inquirers  after  the  word  of  life,  afford  indica- 
tions of  the  approach  of  a  more  brilliant  era." 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  327 

All  dissenters  from  civil  despotic  governments  have  been 
regarded  as  rebels,  and  all  dissenters  from  ecclesiastical 
tyranny  and  oppression  have  been  denounced  as  heretics 
and  infidels.  Some  of  the  purest  men  that  have  ever 
honored  this  mortal  stage  of  existence,  and  some  of  the 
purest  sentiments  that  have  ever  elevated  human  thought, 
have  been  sacrificed  upon  the  unholy  altar  of  priestcraft 
and  superstition.  We  should  evidently  be  wanting  in 
charity  were  we  to  represent  all  as  illiberal  who  are  sta- 
tioned in  the  ranks  of  orthodoxy.  Such  are  not  our 
views  ;  for  we  are  convinced  that  many,  very  many,  thus 
circumstanced,  know  and  highly  aj)preciate  the  value  of 
Gospel  liberty,  and  were  it  not  for  the  anxious  watchings 
of  those  who  '  bear  rule,'  would  have  burst  their  chains 
asunder." 

"  We  are  dissenters  from  the  corruptions  the  church  has 
accumulated  in  the  wilderness.  Its  unscriptural  creeds 
and  doctrines  —  its  cruel  and  oppressive  government  —  its 
unholy  and  proscriptive  spirit  —  its  fanatical  and  super- 
stitious ceremonies  —  its  worldly  show  and  empty  parade — 
its  unwarrantable  pretensions  and  unnecessary  divisions, 
we  shall  endeavor  to  expose  in  a  prudent  manner,  and 
show  our  readers  '  a  more  excellent  way  ! '  We  shall 
endeavor  to  take  the  medium  between  a  blind  fanaticism 
and  a  cold  formality,  and  in  all  cases  the  Holy  Scriptures 
shall  be  the  man  of  our  counsel ;  and  we  shall  use  every 
exertion  in  our  power  to  persuade  our  readers  to  be  en- 
lightened, rational,  liberal,  charitable,  kind,  experimental 
and  practical  Christians." 

"  Christian  liberty  will  be  a  leading  topic  in  the  Pal- 
ladium, as  genuine  religion  can  breathe  freely  only  in  the 
atmosphere  of  freedom.  There  cannot  be  imagined  a 
greater  treason  against  heaven  and  earth,  than  for  men, 
under  the  pretence  of  a  superior  sanctity,  to  plot,  contrive, 


328  MEMOIR      OF 

and  provide  for  the  control  of  human  thoughts,  actions 
and  hopes,  by  infusing  into  the  minds  of  their  brethren  and 
equals  the  delirium  of  superstitious  fears  of  God,  and  the 
poison  of  cringing  subserviency  to  man.  The  churches 
which  have  attempted  this,  have  displayed  the  worst 
effects  of  ambition,  selfishness  and  sensualitj ;  and  the 
states  wliich  have  submitted  to  it,  all  the  debasement  of 
servility,  ignorance,  and  even  of  crime.  Men  should 
dread  nothing  but  sin,  and  submit  to  no  authority  not 
delegated  by  themselves,  except  that  of  their  parents  and 
their  God.  The  Palladium  is  not  designed  to  espouse 
any  party  in  politics  ;  yet  it  may  have  occasion  at  times 
to  speak  on  the  subject  of  Civil  Government,  so  far  as 
that  species  of  government  has  a  direct  bearing  on  Chris- 
tian liberty." 

In  this  bold,  independent,  out-spoken  manner,  the 
Editor  of  the  Palladium  unfurled  his  banner  both  to 
the  friendly  and  the  adverse  breezes  of  the  church 
and  the  world ;  and  though  he  well  knew  how  and 
when  to  be  politic,  his  paper  had  no  disguise  of  senti- 
ments. Up  to  the  mark  of  his  OAvn  enlightenment  it 
had  a  bold,  free,  and  therefore  an  effective  utterance  on 
the  errors  it  attempted  to  correct,  and  the  truths  it 
aimed  to  set  forth. 

As  one  object  of  Mr.  Badger's  monthly  was  to  de- 
velop the  talent  of  young  writers  in  the  cause  he 
represented,  in  his  first  number  he  commends  to  their 
observance  a  method  of  improvement,  containing  seven 
distinct  rules,  which  are  worthy  of  repetition  in  this 
volume,  as  many  of  the  same  class  may  still  be  profited 
by  taking  them  into  consideration.  He  says  to 
them:  — 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  329 

'*  1st.  Devote  some  part  of  each  week  to  writing  on 
some  important  subject.  2cl.  Express  your  ideas  in  as 
few  words  as  possible,  render  the  sense  clear,  use  plain 
and  familiar  language,  but  lively  and  impressive  figures. 
3d.  Often  revise  and  improve  your  former  compositions. 
4th.  Keep  your  ideas  clear  and  distinct,  and  avoid  tau- 
tology. 5th.  Occasionally  submit  your  best  compositions 
to  your  more  learned  and  experienced  brethren  ;  and  never 
be  offended,  but  always  thankful,  for  any  new  idea  or  cor- 
rection. Cth.  When  you  write  for  the  press,  keep  a  copy 
of  your  communications,  and  when  they  are  revised  and 
published,  carefully  compare  your  copy  with  the  editor's 
improvement.  7th.  Always  keep  in  view  the  great 
object  of  all  our  labor,  which  is  to  make  men  good." 

Let  these  seven  rules  of  wisdom  for  young  writers 
still  be  remembered,  as  those  that  are  able  to  disci- 
pline and  to  improve  their  power,  and  particularly 
the  last,  which  gives  to  writin^an  earnest  and  a  truth- 
ful character. 

Assisted  by  a  few  practical  writers,  and  by  such 
contributions  as  he  could  get  from  others,  he  continued 
his  work  successfully,  presenting  a  good  variety  of 
matter  ;  essays  on  moral  and  theological  themes,  letters, 
extracts  from  the  best  authors,  poems,  news  from 
churches,  and  so  forth.  This  first  volume  presents 
among  its  writers  the  names  of  Kinkade,  Morrill,  Mil- 
lard, AYalters,  Barr,  Flemming,  Miles,  Jones,  McKee, 
Purveyance,  Henry  and  others,  whilst  on  its  pages  are 
able  extracts  from  the  pen  of  Channing,  from  the 
Christian  Examiner  and  other  periodicals  of  the  time  ; 
and  at  the  close  of  the  year,  April,  1833,  the  editor, 
in  an  address  headed  by  the  impressive  lines, 


330  me:moir  op 

*'  'T  is  greatly  wise  to  talk  with  our  past  hours, 
And  ask  them  what  report  they  bore  to  Heaven, 
And  how  they  might  have  borne  more  welcome  news,'  " 

was  enabled  to  say : 

"  We  now  have  associated  with  this  establishment  a 
greater  number  of  correspondents  than  there  is  in  any- 
other  of  our  acquaintance.  Our  periodical  has  received 
the  approbation  of  some  of  the  oldest  and  most  experi- 
enced ministers  in  the  connection.  Several  liberal  peri- 
odicals have  favorably  noticed  us.  Many  young  men 
have  used  their  pens  for  the  first  time  (for  the  press)  to 
adorn  our  pages.  Our  old  brethren  who  have  long  been 
dormant,  have  come  forth  as  from  the  silence  of  the 
tomb,  have  spoken  again  and  stretched  forth  their  palsied 
hands  to  our  assistance.  Kinkade's  last  trembling  lines 
were  for  our  use.  In  his  wise  counsel  we  commenced; 
and  in  his  dying  moments  a  fervent  prayer  was  raised  for 
our  prosperity." 

Having  completed  a  well-executed  volume,  for  whose 
pages  over  one  hundred  correspondents  had  written, 
Mr.  Badger  regarded  his  periodical,  surrounded  as  it 
was  by  increasing  encouragements,  as  being  estab- 
lished ;  and,  though  pledged  to  the  vindication  of  sen- 
timents some  of  which  provoke  the  thunder  of  theolo- 
gical strife,  he  calmly  takes  the  motto, 

"Fear  not !  the  good  shall  flourish  in  immortal  youth, 
Unhurt  amidst  the  war  of  elements. 
The  wreck  of  matter,  and  the  crush  of  worlds." 

May,  1833,  the  second  volume  of  this  publication 
commenced ;  and  until  its  removal,  by  the  united  com- 
promise of  the  east,  the  north,  the  south  and  the  west, 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  331 

to  the  toT\-n  of  Broaclalbin,  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y., 
in  the  spring  of  1834,  it  was  issued  monthly  from  the 
press  of  Marshall  &  Dean,  at  Rochester;  and  with 
such  ability  and  interest  was  it  conducted  that  the 
General  Convention  at  Milan,  N.  Y.,  October,  1833, 
resolved,  under  the  name  of  the  "  Gospel  Palladium," 
to  establish  a  weekly  paper,  of  which  Mr.  Badger  was 
unanimously  chosen  editor.*  As  we  glance  over  the 
pages  of  this  volume,  we  notice  the  discussion  of  some 
very  important  themes,  such  as  the  natural  immortal- 
ity of  man,  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  the  freedom  of 
the  human  mind,  the  basis  of  Universalism,  the  derived 
existence  of  Christ,  the  subject  of  Christian  liberty  and 
union,  the  reasons  for  ministerial  ordination,  and 
themes  of  similar  weight,  with  journals  and  letters  ot 
religious  intelligence  in  large  number.  It  were  a 
lengthy  task  to  present  a  paragraph  or  two  from  all 
the  editorials  ;  his  replies  to  his  opponents,  his  strict- 
ures on  the  Monroe  Baptist  Association,  his  views  of 
ordination  in  reply  to  Mr.  Kay  ;  all  these  are  accessi- 
ble to  those  who  own  his  monthly  ;  we  only  say  they 
are  usually  such  as  he  only  could  have  written. 

In  an  article  en  the  ''  Deformities  of  Sectarianism," 
he  indulges  in  great  plainness  of  speech,  using  lan- 
guage which  at  times  has  the  sharpness  of  satire,  yet 
the  pandor  of  honest  belief.  Looking  at  the  sectarian 
phenomena,  he  says  : 

"What  a  compound  of  spite  and  piety!  at  war  with  all 
dissenters,  and  at  war  with  themselves  !  In  many  in- 
stances, 

*  Pall.,  Vol.  II,  p.  287.  A  general  convention  from  the  difFerent 
States. 


332  MEMOIR    OF 

'  They  preach,  and  pray,  and  fight,  and  groan 
For  public  good,  but  meaii  their  oxen.' 

"■  '■  IIow  has  the  fine  gold  become  dim  !     How  lias  the 
salt  lost  its  savor  !     IIow  are  the  mighty  fallen  ! 


5   » 


We  omit  the  strictures  given  on  the  diflferent  sys- 
tems and  organizations  of  the  times. 

In  answer  to  a  request  of  the  committee  of  the  Milan 
Convention,  the  Genesee  Christian  Association  ordered 
the  removal  of  the  Palladium  to  Union  Mills,*  Montgom- 
ery County,!  N.  Y.,  that  being  the  central  position  be- 
tween the  east  and  west  selected  by  the  people  of  New 
England  as  a  location  of  compromise,  and  acceded  to  by 
the  people  of  the  west.  The  Genesee  Association  assign- 
ed to  him  the  entire  control  of  the  paper  and  its  responsi- 
bilities ;  ij:  and  in  May,  1834,  it  took  the  form  of  a 
large  octavo,  with  double  columns,  a  form  it  has  re- 
tained until  now,  and  went  forth  in  semi-monthly  visits 
to  cheer  the  hearts  and  teach  the  minds  of  several 
thousands. 

During  the  time  of  its  publication  at  Rochester,  Mr. 
Badger  discharged  jointly  the  duties  of  pastor  and 
editor ;  and  in  the  rural  town  of  his  after  residence  he 
did  the  same,  being  early  and  late  in  his  office,  often, 
as  creditable  testimony  affirms,  sixteen  hours  a  day ; 
and  on  Sunday,  no  sentence  of  his  sermons  was  lan- 
guid or  weary.  It  is  moderate  to  say,  that  his  mani- 
fold resources  were  not  exhausted  by  the  diflferent  and 
various  directions  in  which  they  were  used. 

*  In  the  town  of  Broadalbin.  f  Now  Fulton  County. 

+  Pall.,  Vol.  II,  p.  387. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  333 

In  the  closing  number  of  Volume  II,  Mr.  Badger 
exrpessed  the  opinion  that  the  ground  occupied  by  the 
Christians  is  a  medium  between  the  "wide  extremes 
•which  several  sects  have  assumed.  It  is  probable, 
indeed,  that,  were  the  two  general  positions  of  doctri- 
nal orthodoxy  and  rationalistic  reformers  brought  into 
contrast,  it  would  be  found  that  the  position  of  this 
denomination  is  midway  between  the  two  extremes, 
having  in  it  the  evangelical  element  of  inward  salva- 
tion through  Christ,  and  the  operation  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  with  it  the  rigid  demands  of  reason  in 
regard  to  the  accordancy  of  theological  statements 
■with  themselves,  and  with  all  known  truth  within  and 
without.  They  discarded  Socinianism  and  the  mere 
religion  of  the  intellect  on  the  one  hand,  and,  on  the 
other,  the  unfjuestioning  submission  of  the  mind  to  the 
authority  of  time-honored  and  creed-embalmed  opin- 
ion. Whilst  they  rejected  the  supreme  and  self- 
existent  deity  of  Jesus  as  inconsistent  with  the  eternal 
supremacy  of  Him  whom  Jesus  worshipped,  they  re- 
vered the  unmeasured  presence  of  the  high  divinity 
that  dwelt  in  him  ;  and,  whilst  they  denied  the  doc- 
trine of  arbitrary  grace,  they  affirmed  the  full  depend- 
ence of  man  on  the  direct  agency  of  God,  of  his  illu- 
minating word  and  sanctifying  spirit,  for  his  salvation. 
They  seemed  to  unite,  to  a  large  extent,  the  light  of 
the  reason  on  subjects  of  belief,  with  the  most  earnest 
piety  and  zeal  for  the  salvation  of  sinners,  regarding, 
in  all  discussions  of  sacred  themes,  the  Scripture  tes- 
timony as  final  and  supreme. 

The  Christian  Palladium,  now  at  Union  Mills,  by 
the  agreement  of  a  general  convention,  representing 


334  MEMOIR    OF 

different  parts  of  the  country,  did  not,  as  was  contem- 
plated, become  a  weekly  paper,  but  a  semi-monthly. 
In  this  form,  Mr.  Badger  was  its  editor  until  May  1, 
1839,  making  in  all  seven  years'  service  in  the  edito- 
rial field.  Though  there  had  been  and  were  several 
periodicals  published  under  the  auspices  of  the  Chris- 
tian denomination,  the  Christian  Herald,  of  Ports- 
mouth, N.  H.,  the  Gospel  Luminary,  of  New  York, 
the  Christian  Messenger,  of  Georgetown,  Ky.,  and  the 
Christian  Banner,  of  Vermont,  none  ever  wielded  the 
influence,  nor  displayed  the  same  continuous  course  of 
mental  energy  and  interest,  as  did  the  Palladium, 
when  under  the  control  of  Joseph  Badger,  its  first 
editor  ;  and  perhaps  we  might,  taking  all  things  into 
view,  add  to  this  title  the  name  creator  and  founder, 
for,  though  it  sprung  out  of  the  necessities  of  the  de- 
nomination, under  the  assistance  of  several  minds,  it 
was  his  laborious  toil  and  managing  genius  that  gave 
it  permanence  and  successful  progress.*  AVc  would 
not  claim  that  Mr.  Badger  was  free  from  editorial 
faults  and  errors ;  these  he  had ;  but,  what  is  not  small 
in  the  success  of  any  person,  he  had  the  ability  to  make 
even  his  errors  interesting  and  entertaining ;  nor  were 
his  truths  ever  dull  or  drowsy.  His  friends  wanted 
to  read  what  he  had  written  from  the  magnetism  com- 
mon to  friendship  when  it  centres  in  an  original  man, 
and  his  opponents  and  enemies,  — for  he  had  not  a  few 
of  this  class,  —  would,   from    some  other   attraction^ 

*  The  leading  men  in  starting:  the  general  association  and  the 
publication  of  the  Christian  Palladium  were  0.  E.  Morrill,  J.  Badger, 
J.  Bailey,  B,  Miles,  and  others.  O.  E.  Morrill  was  particularly  active 
and  prominent  in  this  useful  movement. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  335 

hasten  to  the  perusal  of  his  lines,  as  if  they  were  im- 
pelled by  a  curiosity  to  know  what  would  come  next. 
I  judge  that  friends  and  foes,  on  opening  his  newly- 
issued  paper,  were  very  much  in  the  habit  of  fir8t 
reading  what  he  had  written.  ^ 

At  the  General  Convention  already  spoken  of,  there 
originated,  in  the  merging  of  many  local  interests  into 
general,  and  especially  in  the  importance  ascribed  to 
questions  touching  the  general  weal,  the  idea  so  often 
alluded  to  in  Mr.  Badger's  editorials,  under  the  name 
of  "  General  Meifsures."  By  consent  of  all,  his  paper 
was  the  representative  of  the  general  interest,  in  con- 
tradistinction to  whatever  was  local ;  and  to  overcome 
local  prejudices  was  one  of  his  determined  aims. 
Among  the  methods  he  adopted  to  unite  the  east  and 
the  west  in  the  bonds  of  a  stronger  amity,  was  that  of 
induchiGT  youn-j;  ministers  of  talent  in  the  west  to  locate 
in  New  England,  and  men  of  influence  in  New  Eng- 
land to  take  western  fields  of  labor.  "  I  wish,"  said 
Mr.  B.,  in  May,  1835,  to  the  writer  of  this  memoir, 
"  to  get  all  the  ministers  I  can  in  the  west  to  settle  in 
the  east,  and  all  the  eastern  ministers  I  can  to  settle 
in  the  west.  In  this  way  I  can  conquer  the  local  pre- 
judices." 

"  Religion  without  bigotry,  zeal  without  fanaticism, 
liberty  without  licentiousness,"  are  the  words  that  blaze 
on  the  flag  of  Mr.  Badger's  editorial  ship,  which,  though 
usually  accustomed  to  peaceful  cruising,  was  by  neces- 
sity, at  times,  a  man-of-war.  In  exposing  imposition, 
in  opposing  formidable  ability  if  arrayed  against  what 
he  regarded  as  vital  in  religion,  Mr.  B.  was  very 
decided;    and  none  who   had  to  contend  with  him 


336  MEMOIR    OF 

much  or  long,  ever  looked  with  indifference  on  his 
power  to  achieve  his  ends.  His  weapons  of  war  were 
various ;  if  thej  were  not  always  polished  with  the 
finest  logic,  they  were  such  as  did  execution  and  brought 
success.  Satire,  humor,  wit,  not  unfrequently  lent 
their  aid  to  his  controversial  labors ;  yet  it  is  difficult, 
it  is  even  impossible,  to  find  a  single  article  in  which 
these  abound,  that  does  not,  when  divested  of  those 
qualities,  possess  a  sufficiency  of  substantial  argument 
to  render  his  position  a  strong  one. 

In  glancing  over  these  pages,  of  1834-5-6,  it  is 
evident  that  the  subjects  discussed  are  those  in  which 
the  feelings  of  tlic  writers  were  strongly  engaged. 
Education  for  all  men  and  education  for  ministers  was 
very  independently  vindicated,  though  the  idea  of  the 
competency  of  schools  to  impart  all  the  qualifications 
needed  by  a  minister  of  salvation,  was  justly  and  strong- 
ly denied ;  instead  of  an  entire  human  reliance,  the 
minister  was  advised  to  remember  his  dependence  on 
the  Holy  Spirit,  whose  office  to  illuminate  the  human 
mind  beyond  the  teachings  of  man,  and  to  purify  the 
human  heart  beyond  the  power  of  earthly  guardians, 
has  never  yet  ceased  on  earth.  Mr.  Badger's  writings 
show  him  to  be  a  decided  friend  of  general  education, 
of  the  cultivation  which  science  and  literature  impart. 
They  declare  him  to  be  an  active  friend  of  this  culture 
for  young  ministers,  for  it  has  not  only  the  advocacy  of 
his  words,  but  of  his  deeds  also.  In  June,  1839,  he 
aided  the  introduction  of  a  resolution  at  the  Confer- 
ential  Assemblage,  held  at  Rock  Stream,  Yates  County, 
N.  Y.,  which  called  for  the  appointment  of  a  number 
of  persons  to  investigate  the  practicability   and  the 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  337 

propriety  of  establishing  a  literary  institution  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  in  which  the  common  and  higher 
branches  of  science  should  be  taught,  for  the  intent,  as 
explained  by  the  speakers  who  discussed  the  question^ 
that  young  men  who  were  to  devote  their  lives  to  the 
ministry  might,  unembarrassed  by  the  narrowness  of 
a  sectarian  platform,  secure  to  themselves  the  accom- 
plishment of  a  good  education  ;  also,  that  the  friends 
of  liberal  Christianity  in  the  State  and  elsewhere  might 
enjoy  the  same  privilege.  Eeyond  the  benefit  of  the 
culture  of  science,  he  spoke  cautiously,  thinking  it  no 
benefit  for  a  young  man  to  learn  and  to  drag  after  him 
through  life,  a  dead,  dogmatic  system  of  theology.  I 
remember  to  have  heard  him  say  on  that  occasion, 
"  Let  it  not  be  thought  that  the  end  of  this  institution 
is  to  teach  theology.  We  will  make  men^  and  let  God 
make  ministers.'*  These  were  his  words.  It  is  well 
known  that  the  movement  at  that  time  made  resulted 
in  the  establishment  of  the  Starkey  Seminary,  which, 
embosomed  in  the  elegant  scenery  of  the  Seneca  Lake, 
continues  still  to  be  active  and  prosperous.  At  Union 
Mills,  he  took  no  common  pains  to  give  influence  and 
character  to  the  Academy,  which^  under  his  encour- 
agement, and  the  encouragement  of  a  few  others,  had 
opened  in  that  place.  In  1844,  he  became  one  of  the 
trustees  and  a  member  of  the  visiting  committee  of  the 
Meadville  Theological  School,  which  offices  he  held 
until  his  death.  But,  perhaps,  in  some  other  place  in 
this  memoir,  we  may  state  more  fully  his  ideas  of 
ministerial  education.  It  was  indeed  characteristic  of 
his  taste,  the  republication,  in  1833,  of  Mason  on  Self- 
knowledge,  and  Blair  on  the  Grave,  which  he  so  gener- 
15 


SS8  MEMOIR    OF 

ally  introduced  among  young  ministers.  Instead  of 
giving  them  a  dry  bone  of  theology  to  pick,  he  handed 
them  a  live  book  to  read,  and  ''  to  place,  for  a  season 
at  least,  next  to  their  Bibles,"  in  esteem,  which  "was 
founded  on  the  old  Grecian  text,  "  Kxow  thyself." 

But  reverting  back  to  the  pages  of  the  Palladium, 
we  find  that  Mr.  Badger,  as  editor,  not  only  presided 
over,  but  took  part,  in  a  discussion  on  the  subject  of 
Divine  or  Spii'itual  Influence  ;  a  subject  which,  in  those 
years,  claimed  attention  from  the  somewhat  successful 
agitation  of  Mr.  A.  Campbell's  system  of  theology,  in 
the  west.  Mr.  C,  from  the  commanding  talents  with 
which  he  advocated  his  positions,  from  the  reputation 
he  had  gained  as  a  controversialist,*  and  from  the  Ub- 
erahty  of  his  new  views  in  some  respects  and  their 
originality  in  others,  it  happened  that  a  large  number 
of  ministers  and  churches  who  belonged  to  the  Chris- 
tian denomination,  in  the  west  and  south,  together 
with  a  few  minds  so  mclined  in  the  Eastern  and  Middle 
States,  began  to  look  to  Mr.  Campbell  as  tlie  hght  of 
the  age  —  as  a  new  spiritual  Moses  sent  to  lead  Israel 
through  his  wilderness.  It  is  not  uncommon,  indeed, 
for  the  uneducated  to  magnify  the  powers,  and  to  assign 
undue  consequence  to  an  originally  endowed  and  edu- 
cated mind,  especially  when  such  a  mind  is  possessed 
of  eloquence  and  boldness,  quahties  that  always  im- 
press strongly  the  mass  of  mankind.      Many  churches 


♦  The  debate  with  R.  D.  Owen,  as  it  was  called,  was  evidently  no 
debate.  No  direct  issue  was  formed  between  them,  and  there  was  no 
direct  conflict  of  mind  with  mind  on  any  essential  question.  It  was 
mostly  the  rare  phenomenon  of  two  men  talking  alternately  in  the 
same  place  on  different  subjects. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  339 

in  Kentucky,  and  some  in  other  States,  embraced  his 
views  ;  nor  can  it  be  questioned  that  Mr.  Campbell 
presented  many  truths,  and  in  an  attractive  dress,  to 
the  people  of  the  west. 

In  this  system  it  was  premised  that  divine  influence 
reaches  man  wholly  through  the  intellectual  powers  ; 
that  conversion  is  wholly  from  the  force  of  knowledge 
and  motive  oflfercd  to  the  understanding ;  that  the  Holy 
Spirit  which  once  inspired  the  ancients,  never  in  these 
years  directly  reaches  man  as  once  it  did ;  that 
God  only  penetrates  the  sinner  by  the  agency  of  the 
word  recorded  in  the  Old  and  New  Testaments ;  that  it 
is  only  through  these  ancient  words  that  the  Eternal 
Spirit  works  upon  the  world's  darkness  and  degrada- 
tion. To  these  ideas  we  may  add  two  others,  which 
are,  that  there  is  no  divine  call  to  the  ministry  ;  that 
in  or  through  the  act  of  water  baptism,  in  the  form  of 
immersion,  sins  are  remitted.  Whilst  Mr.  Badger  and 
his  associates  agreed  with  Mr.  C.  in  reverence  for 
the  Scriptures,  in  the  free  investigation  of  sacred 
themes,  and  in  the  rejection  of  human  creeds  as  tests 
of  fellowship,  ideas  in  whose  conception  and  utterance 
they  were  many  years  his  seniors  and  predecessors  in 
the  field  of  theological  reform,  they  took  religious  ex- 
perience as  their  basis,  affirmed  the  free  present  agen- 
cy of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  world,  man's  free  access 
to  God,  and  the  forgiveness  of  sins  on  the  conditions 
of  faith  and  repentance,  previous  to,  and  independent 
of,  the  outward  baptismal  rite.  Without  attempting 
to  enter  upon  theological  investigation,  that  being  for- 
eign to  our  purpose,  we  would  say,  that  we  seem  to 
deny  that  God  is  a  sun,  we  impair  the  force  of  his 


340  MEMOIR    OK 

eternal  rajs,  bj  obliging  him  to  shine  forever  upon 
the  world  exclusively  through  the  atmosphere  of  an- 
cient Palestine.  The  sun  pours  out  each  day  afresh. 
So  is  God  a  sun,  radiating  for  all  men,  not  through  the 
ancient  word-medium  exclusively,  but  through  many 
media.  His  deeds  certainly  ought  to  be  as  expressive 
of  his  spirit  as  his  words  ;  and  are  not  creation  and 
providence  full  of  his  deeds  ?  God  governs  the  ma- 
terial universe  not  by  ancient  but  by  present  agency 
and  action.  Let  this  fact  stand  as  the  type  of  his 
manner  of  ruling  and  blessing  in  the  universe  of  moral 
and  intellectual  being ;  for  it  renders  no  injustice  to 
the  past,  since  the  condition  of  both  nature  and  spirit 
in  this  nineteenth  century  holds  its  lawful  and  inviola- 
ble connection  with  all  the  past  eras  and  epochs  that 
either  nature  or  spirit  have  knoA\Ti.  What  is  religion 
worth  if  it  opens  no  fresh  and  hving  communication 
with  Heaven  ?  Is  there  nothing  but  a  ?t'07'c?-ligament 
to  unite  the  living  soul  with  its  living  God  ?  Is  the 
Holy  Spirit  a  retired  agent,  no  longer  mindful  of  his 
ancient  offices  ?  Are  his  abilities  lost  ?  Are  there 
no  fresh  inspirations  of  holiness  and  truth  ? 

Mr.  Badger's  remarks  on  the  word-theory  of  Mr. 
Campbell  are  various  ;  sometimes  one  or  two  para- 
graphs only,  sometimes  several  columns  are  employed. 
Though  these  are  not  thrown  into  systematic  argu- 
ment, they  were  pointed  and  effective,  and  through 
them  all,  one  idea  is  prominent,  that  religion  of  the 
inward  life,  that  a  true  religious  experience,  are  op- 
posed to  a  system  so  intellectually  speculative,  and 
which  tends  to  chill  and  discourage  faith  in  a  free 
access  to  God,  and  in  his  direct  holy  influences  on  the 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  341 

soul.     This  idea,  based  in  experience,  was  his  princi- 
pal reliance. 

In  1836,  he  preached  a  sermon  on  Rom.  8  :  26 : 
"  Likewise  the  Spirit  also  helpeth  our  infirmities,"  in 
which  he  set  forth  the  idea,  which  frequently  occurs  in 
his  writings,  that  human  nature  is  too  weak  to  resist 
error,  to  encounter  temptation,  and  to  bear  life's  sor- 
rows from  its  own  strength;  that  its  imperfections 
demand  an  immediate  spiritual  aid,  which  he  contended 
was  promised  in  the  system  of  Christianity,  and  real- 
ized by  all  who  live  by  faith  and  walk  in  newness  of 
life. 

The  gifted  and  egotistical  young  man,  AYilliara  Hun- 
ter, originally  from  Ireland,  who  became  an  eloquent 
orator  and  editor  in  behalf  of  those  views,  Mr.  Badger 
disposes  of  very  easily.  lie  tells  him,  that  if  he 
should  live  twenty  years  longer  and  happen  to  read 
one  of  his  prospectuses,  he  will  see  that  his  youthful 
swells  run  rather  high,  that  these  now  "  are  enough  to 
make  an  old  man's  head  swim.  And,  when  reminded 
by  Mr.  Hunter  that  old  sailors  should  not  complain  of 
swells,  and  that  unless  he  held  fast  to  the  rigging  and 
looked  aloft,  he  would  fall  overboard  within  one  year, 
Mr.  B.  calmly  inquires,  "  Oh,  friend  William  !  and  will 
ye  verily  have  us  all  overboard  in  one  year  ?  Then,  in- 
deed, and  ye  will  have  us  all  in  the  water  —  according 
to  thy  theory,  friend  William,  that  is  a  very  safe  ele- 
ment. Shall  we  not  be  in  a  fair  way  for  heaven?" 
Mr.  Hunter  offers  to  show,  on  one  page  of  the  Palla- 
dium, from  the  Bible,  that  he  believes  in  a  spiritual 
religion,  and  that  Mr.  Badger  believes  in  a  spiritless 
one.     The  latter  replies,  that  the  work  promised  is 


342     '  MEMOIR    OF 

/ 

weighty,  and  that  his  doubts  concerning  his  astonishing 
skill  will  be  lessened  if  he  will  first  exhibit  some  proof 
of  spirituality  on  one  of  his  own  pages,  before  coming 
to  take  the  mote  from  his  neighbor. 

The  allusions  of  Mr.  Campbell,  in  his  "  Millennial 
Harbinger,"  show  that  he  was  by  no  means  indifferent 
to  Mr.  Badger's  antagonism  to  his  cause.  One  allu- 
sion taken  from  his  notes,  December,  1837,  on  his 
eastern  tour,  in  which  he  styles  Mr.  Badger  the 
"  redoubtable  captain,"  will  suffice.     He  says  :  — 

"  Mr.  Badorer  has  been  one  of  the  leaders  in  this  j^lori- 
ous  struggle  of  walking  by  the  Bible  alone  ;  but  these 
brethren  (and  I  could  name  others  with  them)  are  deter- 
mined not  merely  to  profess,  but  to  walk  in  all  the  com- 
mandments and  ordinances  in  the  Bible.  We  intend,  in 
the  next  volume,  to  pay  some  more  attention  to  the  great 
apostasy  from  the  Bible  alone,  now  conftnanded  by  this 
redoubtable  captain,  wlio  sails  sometimes  under  this  flag, 
and  sometimes  under  that.  However,  the  New  England 
brethren  are  not  ignorant  of  his  devices,  and  are  not 
likely  to  marshal  long  under  his  Palladium,  inasmuch  as 
he  seems  not  to  relish  the  simplicity  nor  authority  of  the 
Nazarenes." 

• 

The  permanency  and  stability  of  Mr.  Badger,  ques- 
tioned in  this  paragraph,  all  who  know  anything  of 
him  must  concede  to  be  conspicuous  traits  of  his  whole 
career  in  life.  He  was  a  man  of  no  great  and  sudden 
changes.  Perhaps  a  paragraph  or  so  from  his  reply 
may  serve  to  show  his  manner  of  deahng  with  a  strong 
assailant. 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  343 

'*  Mr.  Campbell  had  succeeded  in  drawing  away  so 
many  Christians  in  the  west,  that  his  expectation  of  suc- 
cess among  the  intelligent  people  of  New  York  and  New 
England  was  very  great.  But  he  toiled  all  night  and 
caught  nothing.  The  enterprise  was  a  failure  ;  and  his 
disappointment  and  chagrin  were  so  great  that  since  his 
return  to  the  west,  in  speaking  of  eastern  men  and  meas- 
ures, he  gives  strong  symptoms  of  insanity,  and  some  of 
his  articles  abound  in  cruel,  unworthy  invectives  and  mis- 
representations." 

"  But  the  most  diverting  thing,  is  to  see  his  means  of 
knowing,  and  his  pretended  knowledge  of  the  state  of 
things  at  the  east.  He  spent  but  a  few  days  in  New 
England ;  yet  he  pretends  to  know  the  state  of  society, 
the  manners  and  customs  of  the  people  throughout  that 
wide  extended  portion  of  our  continent.  But  what 
churches  did  he  visit  ?  Astonishing  to  tell !  He  spent  a 
few  days  in  Boston  ;  a  few  hours  at  Salem  and  Lynn  ;  and 
we  have  never  heard  of  his  making  a  moment's  call  on 
any  other  Christian  church  in  New  England.  Yet  he 
speaks  in  broad  terms  and  says  :  '  The  Christians  in  New 
England  need  only  to  be  taught  the  way  of  the  Lord  more 
perfectly.'  What  does  this  foreigner,  this  man  of  the 
west  know  about  the  condition  of  the  churches  in  Maine, 
New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  and  good  old  Connecticut, 
having  never  entered  a  chapel  or  cottage  in  either  of  those 
great  States  ?  But  he  continues  :  '  Much  is  w^anting  in 
many  places  to  bring  them  nigh  to  the  platform  of  Apos- 
tolic usage  and  authority.'  Many  places  !  This  sounds 
well  from  a  stranger,  such  as  himself.  Why  did  he  not 
teach  our  brethren  the  way  of  the  Lord  more  perfectly  ? 
Why  did  he  not  bring  them  to  the  Apostolic  platform  ? 
Why  not  push  his  inquiries  further  ?  Alas,  alas  !  he  had 
seen  enough  of  New  England  sagacity  ;  it  was  not  the  soil 


344  MEMOIR    OF 

for  the  seed  he  had  brought.  Therefore,  he  turns  upon 
his  heel  and  leaves  the  good  people  of  Lynn  to  manufac- 
ture their  own  shoes,  and  those  of  Salem  to  manage  their 
own  witches." 

The  following  paragraph,  which  succeeds  what  I 
have  inserted,  was  partially  quoted  by  Bishop  Purcell 
in  the  celebrated  discussion  between  himself  and  Mr. 
Campbell  on  the  Roman  Catholic  religion,*  held  at  Cin- 
cinnati, January,  1837,  which,  with  several  other  quo- 
tations from  the  same  paper,  goes  to  show  that  the 
Palladium,  which  he  introduced  as  the  organ  of  a  nu- 
merous body  of  Christians,  had  not  failed  to  impress 
the  Catholic  Church  as  being  a  work  of  strength  in 
Protestant  literature. 

"  He  frequently  speaks  of  *  the  Bible  alone  ; '  but  this 
is  not  a  term  generally  used  by  the  brethren  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  is  taught  by  few  except  Mr.  C.  We  never 
knew  our  brethren  to  boast  of  walking  by  the  Bible  alone. 
This  we  regard  as  an  error,  let  who  will  proclaim  it.  We 
say  give  us  the  Bible,  but  not  alone.  Let  us  have  a  God, 
a  Christ,  a  Holy  Spirit,  and  a  ministry  to  accompany  it. 
There  was  a  law  given  to  the  Jews ;  also,  a  testimony, 
which  they  were  bound  to  observe.  The  testimony  of  the 
inspired  prophets  did  not  contradict  the  law,  but  taught 
and  enforced  the  same  great  truths.  The  ancients  were 
to  walk  by  the  law  and  the  testimony,  which  was  called  a 
word,  (Isa.  8  :  20).  So  the  New  Dispensation  presents 
the  written  Word  and  the  Spirit  of  God  as  the  perfect  law 
by  which  the  saints  are  to  be  governed.  Thus  we  preach 
the  Spirit  and  the  Word." 

•  Debate  on  the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  pages  59,  186,  172. 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  345 

"  We  have  frequently  heard,"  continues  Mr.  B.,  "  the 
followers  of  Mr.  C.  talk  about  carrying  the  Gospel  in 
their  pockets,  meaning  the  Bible  ;  but  such  are  not  like 
Christ's  ministers,  who  have  the  '  treasure  in  earthen  ves- 
sels.'    The  Gospel  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation." 

Referring  to  the  charge  of  fluctuation  he  says :  — 

"Mr.  C,  we  never  belonged  to  the  Presbyterians  of 
Scotland ;  we  never  united  with  nor  dissented  from  the 
Red  Stone  Association  of  Baptists.  But,  dear  sir,  has  not 
your  whole  life  been  one  scene  of  reforms,  deforms,  and 
changes?  Just Jook  at  your  equivocations  on  Calvinism 
and  the  Trinity  ;  turn  to  your  correspondence  with  Mr. 
Grew  and  all  your  opponents,  and  blush,  while  you  talk 
about  any  man  '  who  sails  sometimes  under  this  flag,  and 
sometimes  under  that.'  This,  sir,  comes  with  a  very  bad 
grace  from  your  honorable  self." 

It  is  not  my  wish  to  revive  the  passions  of  past  con- 
troversy, but  the  antagonism  of  Mr.  Badger  to  certain 
features  of  the  cause  which  Mr.  Campbell  represented 
in  the  west  was  so  conspicuous  a  part  of  his  editorial 
life,  that  the  chapter  here  opened  could  not  well  be 
completed  without  some  allusions  to  and  quotations 
from  it.  No  one  doubts  that  his  paper  influenced 
thousands  not  to  embrace  the  system  of  his  distinguished 
opponent. 

In  1837  and  1838  he  discussed  the  question  at 
length,  "  The  Church  the  Highest  Tribunal," 
making  a  distinction  between  a  church  and  the  church, 
denying  that  the  former  is  the  highest  tribunal,  and 
qualifiedly  conceding  this  honor  to  the  latter  ;  that  is  to 
say,  a  particular  church  may  be  incompetent  to  act 


346  MEMOIR    OK 

upon  questions  which  the  large  assemblage  of  ministers 
and  particular  churches  might  act  upon  with  wisdom 
and  safety.  These  articles  were  indeed  an  able  vindi- 
cation of  the  doctrine  of  associated  action,  of  confer- 
ential  organization  ;  they  called  out  a  vast  deal  of  dis- 
cussion, and  whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  justness 
of  his  position,  none  can  deny  that  his  articles  produced 
a  very  strong  impression  on  the  public  generally.  The 
great  danger  of  large  associative  bodies  is  the  usurp- 
ation of  power  over  individual  rights  ;  but  he  claimed 
to  protect  the  individual  and  to  secure  his  rights 
through  the  associative  action  for  which'he  plead.  Both 
sides  were  heard  in  this  discussion. 

The  Catholic  question,  the  subject  of  temperance, 
slavery,  ministerial  education,  and  historical  sketches 
of  the  denomination,  each  had  a  share  of  attention. 
Dr.  Channing's  letter  on  the  Catholic  question,  origi- 
nally in  the  Western  Messenger,  was  published  in  his 
columns,  printed  in  small  pamphlets  and  scattered  over 
the  country.  Also  his  letter  to  Mr.  Badger  on  the 
principles  and  wants  of  the  Christian  denomination, 
which,  to  a  good  extent,  may  be  called  a  treatise  on 
education,  was  called  forth  by  Mr.  Badger's  direct  re- 
quest, and,  excellent  as  it  was  as  a  whole,  it  received 
from  him  friendly  and  independent  strictures  on  points 
wherein  he  regarded  Dr.  C.  as*  being  misinformed. 
The  Palladium,  in  the  hands  of  Joseph  Badger,  was  an 
organ  of  power  mightier  than  had  ever  been  wielded  in 
the  same  cause  before,  and  altogether  more  so  than  the 
same  paper  has  ever  been  since.  We  think  the  editor 
speaks  truthfully  in  saying,  "  The  secret  of  its  success 
is  its  adaptation  to  the  wants  of  the  people.     It  now  has 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  347 

a  larger  subscription  than  any  two  periodicals  have  or 
ever  had  in  the  Christian  or  Unitarian  societies  on  the 
globe."  It  is  almost  unnecessary  to  add  the  most 
practical  evidence  of  its  success,  namely,  that  through 
the  provident  management  of  its  editor,  it  was  finan- 
cially the  source  of  a  very  respectable  income.  Let  us 
hear  what  impression  this  paper  made  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Atlantic.  Rev.  John  R.  Beard,*  of  Manchester, 
England,  under  the  date  of  June  1, 1838,  -wrote  as 
follows :  ' 

I  have  long  desired  to  find  a  moment  to  address  you 
a  few  lines.  I  feel  a  deep  interest  in  the  cause  to  which 
you  and  many  other  excellent  men  are  devoted  ;  and  I  do 
hope  and  trust  that  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  will 
abundantly  bless  your  praiseworthy  labors." 

"In  your  alienation  from  creeds  of  human  formation, 
you  not  only  have  a  feeling  in  common  with  the  Unitari- 
ans of  England,  but  in  my  opinion  have  assumed  a  posi- 
tion at  onc3  eminently  Scriptural  and  of  great  and  press- 
ing need  in  the  actual  state  of  the  religious  world.  The 
New  Testament  Scriptures  ought  to  be  the  only  standard 
of  faith  and  doctrine  with  followers  of  Christ ;  and  aware 
of  the  fallibility  which  must  attach  to  every  mere  human 
interpretation  of  Holy  Writ,  I  feel  that  the  great  work  is 
to  command  allegiance  to  the  great  Protestant  principle 
of  the  sufficiency  and  paramount  authority  of  the  Bible, 
and  particularly  of  the  writings  of  the  Evangelists  and 
the  Apostles.  I  cannot  but  look  on  your  efforts  and  suc- 
cesses with  hiijh  o;ratification,  and  in  the  chills  of  a  colder 
moral  atmosphere  and  the  dissatisfactions  of  a  necessarily 

*Editoi-  of  the  Christian  Teacher. 


348  MEMOIR    OF 

less   productive  field,  I  sometimes  half  wish  myself   in 
the  midst  of  you." 

"While  others  contend,"  said  Mr.  B.,  '*  about  the 
supervacaneous  part  of  religion,  we  will  encourage  the 
enjoyment  of  its  more  exhilarating  radiancy."  "  We  are 
reformers  ;  we  must  and  will  be  reformers.  We  are  de- 
termined never  to  be  guilty  of  a  cringing  subserviency  to 
the  Man  of  Sin,  nor  to  bow  to  any  idol  of  superstition 
which  frail  men  have  impcksed  upon  the  Church  of  God. 
Tlie  Palladium  will  be  Doctrinal,  Historical,  and  Practical. 
Much  attention  will  be  bestowed  on  the  culture  of  the 
youthful  mind,  and  the  improvement  of  young  ministers 
and  young  writers." 

These  and  similar  passages  may  be  regarded  as  the 
landmarks  of  his  editorial  action  ;  and  through  all  his 
seven  years'  course,  it  will  appear  that  the  Palladium 
never  lost  sight  of  its  cardinal  idea  as  taken  from  the 
old  apostolical  discussion,  "  That  Jesus  is  the  Christ, 
the  Son  of  the  living  God."  One  proof  of  its  decision 
and  energy  lies  in  the  violence  and  depth  of  feeling 
that,  in  some  instances,  were  awakened  against  it.  "  It 
is,"  said  its  editor,  "  tine  bane  of  the  Catholic,  the 
Campbellite,  the  disorganizer,  and  the  proud  sectarian  ; 
and  it  is  generally  known  in  the  camp  of  the  enemies 
of  Christian  liberty."  When  Mr.  Badger  made  an 
assault,  which  he  never  did  'without  believing  he  had 
good  reason  so  to  do,  the  party  receiving  it  was  at  no 
loss  to  know  who  it  came  from,  when  it  was  received, 
and  what  it  signified.  We  like  to  see  everything  thor- 
ough after  its  kind;  let  a  blow  be  a  blow,  let  a  smile 
be  a  smile. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  349 

On  leaving  the  editorial  chair,  May  1,  1839,  he  re- 
turned to  his  newly  purchased  and  agreeable  residence 
at  West  Mendon  village,  now  called  Honeoye  Falls,  in 
Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  became,  in  1840,  the 
pastor  of  a  prospering  church  which  had  recently  been 
formed  in  that  place.  Six  months  before  leaving  the 
Palladium,  he  had  announced  the  intention  of  being 
for  a  few  years  an  evangelist.  Speaking  of  himself  in 
the  third  person,  he  said  : 

*'  His  circuit  will  be  principally  within  the  following 
limits:  From  Quebec  on  the  north,  to  Georgia  on  the 
south ;  and  from  Maine  on  the  east,  to  Arkansas  and 
Missouri  on  the  west.  To  be  at  liberty  to  travel  and 
preach  the  Gospel  again,  as  in  the  days  of  his  youth,  is 
the  height  of  his  ambition  ;  and  this  is  his  desire  above 
all  things  of  Heaven." 

In  his  farewell  address,  April  15,  1839,  he  says  : 

••  'And  so,  without  more  circumstance  at  all, 
I  hold  it  fit  that  we  shake  hands  and  part,' 

"  I  now  take  up  my  pen  to  address  you  for  the  last  time, 
as  Editor  of  the  Christian  Palladium,  with  a  feeling  of 
strong  attachment  to  each  and  all  of  you,  and  a  fervent 
desire  for  your  present  and  future  happiness.  We  have 
travelled  a  long  journey  and  encountered  many  difficulties 
together,  and  at  length  have  arrived  at  that  point  where 
that  sacred  relation  we  have  sustained  to  each  other  is  to 
end,  and  our  connection  as  editor  and  patron  is  to  be 
severed  forever." 


350  MEMOIR    OF 

In  reviewing  the  past,  he  claims  to  have  used  no  dis- 
guise, to  have  spoken  plainly  and  independently  on  all 
subjects,  though  at  times,  he  concedes,  a  little  too 
severely  with  certain  opponents,  it  being  necessary  to 
regulate  controversy  with  reference  to  the  opponent  one 
has  to  combat,  and  to  answer  some  persons  by  Solomon's 
celebrated  rule.  These  occasional  severities  he  candidly 
regards  as  the  greatest  errors  in  all  his  editorial  labors. 
He  justifies  the  cool  and  unimpassioned  tone  of  the 
Palladium  during  the  high  excitements  of  the  abolition 
agitation,  and  expresses  a  willingness  that  his  position 
and  procedure  on  that  subject  should  be  put  to  the  test, 
that  on  them  he  is  willing  to  hazard  his  reputation, 
believing  tliat  the  duties  of  the  Palladium  did  not 
require  it  to  enter  the  arena  of  the  new  political 
warfare. 

"On  Cliurch  Government  and  the  powers  of  Confer- 
ence, we  have  bestowed  special  attention,  and  occupied 
much  room,  and  given  our  opponents  a  fair  hearing.  If 
we  thought  there  was  one  single  argument  left  unanswer- 
ed on  which  disorganizers  rely,  we  would  now,  on  leaving 
the  editorial  chair,  give  it  due  consideration.  TVe  have 
opened  this  door  wide  ;  there  has  not  been  a  single  argu- 
ment or  statement  of  the  opposition  left  out,  which  has 
been  presented  for  publication.  This  discussion  was  called 
for,  and  has  been  of  utility  to  the  Christian  society,  as 
our  Conferences  have  since  put  on  new  strength  and  the 
churches  taken  new  courage.  This  poor  worn-out  slander 
which  a  few  heated  partisans  have  set  on  foot,  that  our 
Conferences  have  assumed  improper  authority  and  inter- 
fered with  the  domestic  or  internal  affairs  of  the  churches, 
is  proved,  by  long  experience  and  common  observation,  to 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  351 

be  a  fabrication  of  error,  a  false  alarm  sounded  for  party 
purposes.  But  our  opponents  on  this  question  are  van- 
quished ;  and  though  the  struggle  on  this  question  has 
been  long  and  arduous,  we  shall  ever  look  upon  our  labors 
on  this  point  with  interest  and  satisfaction." 

".We  feel  such  a  strong  attochment  to  the  great  Chris- 
tian family  for  whom  we  have  so  long  provided  our  hum- 
ble repast,  that  the  task  is  truly  painful  to  take  leave. 
You  have  been  our  friends  and  the  friends  of  a  noble 
cause  ;  you  have  sustained  us  and  advanced  truth.  You 
have  frequently  prayed  for  our  success,  and  your  prayers 
have  been  heard,  and  now,  though  our  relation  in  on  e 
respect  is  changed,  yet  we  still  will  be  one  in  spirit,  and 
unitedly  labor  for  the  advancement  of  the  same  common 
cause,  keep  our  eye  on  the  mark  and  meet  in  glory. 
When  our  toils  are  done,  when  we  lay  low  in  the  grave, 
then  may  the  cause  in  which  we  have  labored  exert  a 
universal  influence ;  liberal  truth  spread  throughout  the 
world, — and  the  Palladium's  humble  banner  wave  in 
triumph  over  the  crumbling  ruins  of  sectarisra  and  be  the 
herald  of  Liberty,  Union  and  Peace.  Beloved  patrons. 
Farewell ! " 

•  Thus  ended  seven  years  of  severe  editorial  service, 
through  which  w^e  disc^^-n  the  action  of  a  shrewd,  in- 
telligent, energetic  and  active  mind ;  all  in  all,  the 
ablest  and  most  efficient  editor  of  whom  the  history  of 
the  Christian  denomination  may  boast.  lie  was,  in- 
deed, constitutionally  kind,  yet  on  dishonesty  and  im- 
posture, especially  if  they  came  under  the  sacred  garb, 
he  was  boldly  severe,  this  being  his  favorite,  chosen 
motto  on  all  such  occasions  : 

"  Strip  the  miscreants  of  the  robes  they  stain. 
And  drive  them  from  the  altars  they  profane." 


352  MEMOIR    OF 

One  has  only  to  look  at  the  character  of  the  same 
periodical  from  the  time  he  left  it  until  now,  to  be  con- 
vinced that  his  place  has  never  been  suppHed  ;  that 
the  same  amount  of  concentrated  interest  has  never, 
to  this  date,  been  awakened ;  and,  when  w^e  reflect  on 
the  energy,  the  life  and  the  hope  its  pages  inspired  in 
the  communities  whose  sentiments  it  faithfully  pleaded, 
we  are  strikingly  reminded  that  on  earth  nothing  is  so 
valuable  as  a  man,  and  that  no  cause  is  ever  mighty 
except  through  decision,  through  force  of  character 
and  force  of  expression,  in  setting  forth  the  ideas  and 
principles  which  may  enlighten  and  save. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


GENERAL  VIEWS. 


On  Education.  —  The  first  time  I  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  a  personal  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Badger,  was 
in  January,  1835,  at  Canton,  N.  Y. ;  and  among  the 
several  topics  on  which  he  conversed  during  the  few 
days  we  were  together,  was  the  subject  of  education. 
He  then  said  :  — 

"  Every  human  being  should  be  educated.  All  young 
men  who  are  seeking  to  be  useful  in  public  life  should  be 
educated.  But  there  are  certain  evils  to  be  avoided  in 
the  means  we  pursue.  Every  human  being,  to  improve 
in  a  natural  way,  requires  a  certain   amount  of  physical 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  353 

exercise.  To  shut  one's  self  up  among  books  without 
walking.and  suitable  activity  is  the  certain  road  to  weak- 
ness." 

He  said  he  liad  been  trying  to  mature  a  plan  of 
education  for  young  ministers,  of  which  he  should 
speak  at  some  future  time.  He  said  that  ministers 
gain  no  power  by  becoming  dry  scholars ;  that  they 
should  be  living^  ncdural  men,  to  be  profited  by  sci- 
ence and  literature.  I  noticed,  in  all  subsequent  in- 
terviews, that  he  never  seemed  to  want  scientific  cul- 
ture, at  the  expense  of  naturalness,  spirituality,  and 
sound  health.  It  was  Horace  Mann,  I  think,  who 
more  recently  said,  that  a  dyspeptic  stomach  is  an 
abomination  to  the  Lord.  Mr.  Badger  substantially 
stood  upon  this  text,  in  his  educational  views,  many 
years  ago. 

"June,  1835.  —  All,  we  believe,  are  in  favor  of  gen- 
eral education.  This  is  a  great  principle  on  which  all  are 
agreed.  On  this  ground  we  can,  and  indeed  it  is  our 
duty  to  unite  all  our  energies,  until  our  congregations 
shall  be  an  enlightened  and  intelligent  community.  We 
do  not  think  our  people  now  so  far  behind  other  societies 
as  some  may  imagine ;  we  have  also  scores  of  ministers 
who  are  not  a  whit  behind  the  chiefest  apostles  of  the 
sects  around  us,  in  a  sound  knowledge  of  theology  ;  and 
among  us  are  some  of  the  finest  natural  orators  in  our 
country.  We  do  not  believe  that  any  society  of  equal 
numbers  can  find,  among  their  church  members,  an  equal 
number  of  biblical  critics.  The  people  called  Christians 
have  labored  under  many  embarrassments ;  but  they  have 
made  £!ie  best  use  of  th* limited  means  in  their  possession 
for  improvement.     This  is  a  proof  that  they  are  capable 


354  •  MEMOIR    OF 

of  Still  higher  attainments,  and  a  reason  why  they  should 
be  blessed  with  greater  privileges.  As  the  time  has 
come  for  the  Christian  church  to  take  strong  and  im- 
proved ground  in  this  enlightened  age,  let  education  and 
all  other  practical  subjects  be  thoroughly  discussed,  that 
we  may  be  sufficiently  enlightened  to  go  forward  in  union 
and  strength,  and  sustain  our  character  as  Christian  re- 
formers." 

lie  recommended  that  there  should  be  a  vigilant 
committee  in  every  conference,  Tyhose  business  it 
should  be  to  look  up  young  men  whose  good  but  buried 
talents  might,  with  a  little  encouragement,  be  brought 
out  to  good  advantage  in  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
He  proposed,  as  a  temporary  aid,  the  establishment  of 
suitable  libraries,  and  of  theological  reading-rooms, 
wliere  young  men  could  repair,  and  find  a  desirable 
retreat  for  study  and  reflection. 

"  Tliis,"  says  he,  "is  an  age  of  improvement,  and  we 
must  keep  pace  with  the  improvements  of  the  generation 
in  which  we  live  in  order  to  be  useful.  Nothing  can  be 
more  degrading  to  a  religious  community,  and  nothing 
can  more  effectually  retard  their  usefulness  and  prosper- 
ity, than  an  ignorant  ministry.  We  are  not  in  favor  of 
men-made  ministers,  for  we  believe  there  must  be  a  spir- 
itual, experimental,  and  divine  qualification.  But  we  do 
believe  that  young  men  whose  minds  are  exercised  on 
the  great  work  of  preaching  the  Gospel  should  embrace 
every  opportunity  for  improvement,  and  study  '  to  be 
workmen  that  need  not  be  ashamed.'  In  old  times,  there 
were  the  '  sons  of  the  prophets  ; '  in  the  days  of  the  apos- 
tles, there  was  a  Timothy  and  a^Titus  under  the  particu- 
lar instruction  of  Paul."  — PalL,  vol.  3,  p.  54.     1834. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.'  355 

"April  15,  1835.  —  The  Education  op  Ministers. 
—  On  this  subject  we  expect  to  be  able  to  present  an  im- 
proved method  of  education,  which  will  be  less  expensive, 
and  will  remedy  two  great  evils.  The  first  is  the  de- 
struction of  health  and  the  natural  energies  of  the  man. 
The  second  is  the  decline  of  grace  and  of  spiritual  exer- 
cises in  the  mind  of  the  student.  There  is  a  system  of 
self-(jducation  just  introduced  in  this  State,  on  which  Mr. 
Southwick  and  other  scientific  gentlemen  are  lecturing, 
which  is  higlily  spoken  of.  We  intend  immediately  to 
inform  ourself  on  this  subject,  and  hope  to  find  something 
in  it  worthy  the  attention  of  our  readers.  A  study  of 
this  kind  may,  to  great  advantage,  be  connected  with 
theology  without  the  burdens,  the  darkness  and  pollution 
of  heathen  mythology." 

February,  1837.  —  In  his  remarks  on  Dr.  Chan- 
ning's  letter,  he  says  : 

"  We  are  generally  opposed  to  the  present  mode  of 
getting  up  sectarian  theological  schools.  We  see  so 
many  ignorant  men  coming  out  of*  those  establishments 
pretending  to  teach  theology,  who  were  never  designed, 
by  nature  or  grace,  for  the  ministry,  who  are  as  ignorant 
of  grace,  and  the  first  principles  of  the  Christian  religion, 
as  Nicodemus,  that  we  have  become  disgusted  with  such 
human  institutions,  and  regard  them  as  sources  of  corrup- 
tion and  division  rather  than  helps  to  the  church  of  God. 
In  past  ages,  the  schools  have  been  the  channels  through 
which  error,  like  a  mighty  torrent,  has  poured  its  poison 
into  the  church.  Through  these  mediums  the  clergy 
have  contrived  to  control  and  take  away  the  liberty  of 
Zion.  And  is  it  surprising  that  we,  who  are  reformers, 
should  be  a  little  cautious  about  entering  hastily  into  a 


356  MEMOIR    OF 

course  which  has  proved  so  fatal  and  dangerous  to  thou- 
sands ?  It  is  not  education,  but  the  method,  which  pro- 
duces alarm  among  our  friends.  The  doctor  proclaims 
the  sentiment  of  our  congregations  in  the  clearest  manner 
in  the  following  noble  strain :  '  I  feel  that  a  minister, 
scantily  educated  but  fervent  in  spirit,  will  win  more 
souls  to  Christ  than  the  most  learned  minister  whose 
heart  is  cold,  whose  words  are  frozen,  whose  eye  i^ever 
kindles  with  feeling,  whose  form  is  never  expanded  with 
the  greatness  of  his  thoughts,  and  the  ardor  of  his  love.'  " 

When,  in  his  tour  to  New  England,  in  the  autumn 
of  1835,  he  passed  the  evening  of  September  8th, 
with  Dr.  Channing,  at  his  summer  residence  at  New- 
port, R.  I.,  the  topic  of  education  was  partially  dis- 
cussed ;  and  the  views  there  developed,  and  the  inter- 
est manifested  on  the  part  of  Dr.  C.  in  the  Christian 
denomination,  whom  he  regarded  as  having  a  great 
mission  to  fulfil,  induced  Mr.  B.,  in  January,  1837, 
to  invite  a  communication  from  his  pen.  Those  who 
would  be  pleased  to  read  that  able  document  will  find 
it  in  Vol.  V,  p.  305?  of  the  Christian  Palladium.  Mr. 
Badger's  interest  in  the  cause  of  education  grew  with 
his  years ;  I  remember  to  have  heard  him  express  a 
compliment  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  in  1845, 
to  this  amount;  '-'•Their  scholars,"  said  he,  "are 
scholars.  There  is  no  smattering  or  pretension  about 
it,"  —  a  sentiment  that  perfectly  expressed  his  pro- 
found regard  for  thorough  learning.  But  h^  had  a 
contempt,  which  he  did  not  always  conceal,  for  that 
class  of  men  in  the  ministry,  or  elsewhere,  who  had  a 
systematic  book-learning,  without  any  knowledge  of 
human  nature,  or  any  living  force  with  which  to  act 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  357 

upon  the  world  they  ^yere  living  in ;  at  times,  both  in 
private  and  in  public,  he  alluded  to  them  under  the 
name  of  ''  College  dunces.^^ 

"  August  1, 1837.  —  The  Gospel  and  the  Reforms. 
The  Sun  and  the  Stars.  —  The  natural  sun  is  the 
centre  of  the  solar  system.  Every  planetary  star  is  sta- 
tioned at  a  respectful  distance,  and  is  dependent  on  the 
great  centre  for  its  power  and  influence.  Every  planet 
revolves  round  the  sun  in  its  time,  and  is  directed,  sus- 
tained, bounded  and  governed  by  its  attractive  power. 
So  the  Gospel  is,  to  the  moral  world,  civil  government, 
science,  and  all  the  systems  of  light  and  improvement, 
what  the  sun  is  to  the  heavenly  bodies.  All  must  re- 
volve around,  are  dependent  on,  are  subordinate  to,  and 
all  must  be  governed  by  the  glorious  Gospel  of  tlie  Son 
of  God. 

"If  this  reasoning  is  sound,  and  we  think  none  will 
deny  it,  we  bring  it  forward  as  an  admonition  to  all  men, 
who,  in  their  zeal  to  promote  certain  objects  and  to  carry 
certain  points,  have  set  up  some  little  star  as  the  centre 
and  attempted  to  make  it  the  rallying  point,  and  are 
pleading  for  all  other  planets  to  revolve  around  it.  The 
Pope's  decree,  Mohamet's  revelations,  the  decisions  of 
councils,  synods,  and  the  creeds  of  men,  all  in  their  turn 
have  been  substituted  for  the  sun,  or  centre  of  operation. 
How  mean  they  all  look  in  this  age  of  light  as  a  rule  of 
action,  when  compared  with  the  testimony  of  the  living 
God. 

"  If  the  Presbyterians,  in  the  late  session  of  their 
general  assembly,  had  adhered  to  these  principles  they 
would  not  have  been  split  asunder.  But  how  plain  it  is 
to  every  impartial  spectator  that  they  substituted  a  few 
little  things  as  the  criterion  of  fellowship ;  hence  they  are 


358  MEMOIR    OF 

rent  in  twain.  But  their  separation,  which  is  by  the  most 
of  people  considered  as  a  matter  of  lamentation,  we  re- 
gard as  a  favorable  omen.  They  were  a  great,  a  power- 
ful people,  united  by  human  laws  made  by  themselves. 
They  were  oppressive,  proud,  and  cruel ;  and  their  arbi- 
trary measures,  party  feelings,  and  great  influence,  might 
yet  have  endangered  our  liberties.  Their  ranks  are  now 
broken,  and  the  work  of  reform  is  begun.  They  will 
again  be  more  cordially  united  when  they  all  submit  to 
Christ,  throw  by  their  petty  stars  and  dark  planets,  and 
acknowledge  the  supremacy  of  the  glorious  Sun,  the 
Gospel  of  our  blessed  Lord. 

"  When  the  temperance  reform  was  introduced  it  was  a 
blessed  work;  but  many  good  and  zealous  persons  placed 
it  altogether  before  Christianity,  and  represented  the 
Gospel  as  a  feeble  instrument  in  doing  good  compared 
with  this  benevolent  human  association.  AVe  were  never 
opposed  to  temperance,  but  to  intemperate  measures  for 
the  promotion  of  temperance.  We  are  still  opposed  to 
placing  the  temperance  cause  before  Christianity,  making 
it  the  centre,  and  calling  upon  the  Gospel,  as  an  inferior 
orb,  to  revolve  around  it. 

"When  the  tornado  of  anti-masonry  swept  like  a 
mighty  torrent  through  the  land,  rending  asunder  the 
churches  of  God  and  separating  the  ministers  of  Christ, 
the  cause  of  Jesus  bled  at  every  pore.  What  a  desolat- 
ing mildew  it  left !  What  an  overheated  course  many  a 
zealous  and  good  brother  ran  in  this  holy  war.  In  those 
perilous  times  we  were  among  the  cool  who  pleaded  for 
the  union  of  the  churches  and  conferences  ;  we  then  depre- 
cated all  forced  measures  and  intemperate  decisions,  and 
said,  Do  not  try  to  make  this  star  a  sun,  but  let  us  all 
keep  our  eye  upon  the  great  centre,  and  all  be  Christians. 
This  mild  doctrine  prevailed,  and  all  now  rejoice  that  we 
were  saved  from  disorder  and  ruin. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  359 

"Slavery  and  anti-slavery  are  now  the  exciting  sub- 
jects which  bid  fair  to  produce  great  commotion  and  some 
division  in  the  church.  It  is  said  this  subject  was  among 
the  causes  which  led  to  the  division  of  the  Presbyterian 
assembly.  Some  good  brethren  always  have  their  pow- 
der dry  and  ready  to  blow  up  by  every  spark  that  falls 
near  them.  Such  have  no  medium  in  which  they  rest, 
have  no  principles  by  which  they  are  bounded ;  but  they 
drive  ahead  upon  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  regard- 
less' of  that  moderation  and  charity  which  tlie  Gospel 
enjoins.  They  make  their  point  the  sun,  and  call  on  the 
Gospel  to  exert  its  influence  to  accomplish  their  favorite 
object.  Here  is  the  difliculty.  Men  will  be  partial  and 
limited  in  the  view  they  take  of  subjects,  and  will,  more 
or  less,  be  governed  by  human  passions  in  their  pursuits  ; 
hence  coercive  measures  are  resorted  to,  and  division  and 
ruin  follow." 

The  Ministry.  —  In  the  views  already  given  in 
this  book,  it  is  plain  that  Mr.  Badger  believed  in  a 
Gospel  ministry,  that,  besides  the  human  qualifications 
of  learning  and  culture,  had  a  vital,  living  union  with 
God,  with  Christ,  with  the  perpetual  region  of  light  in 
the  heavens.  This  vie^y,  which  appears  in  the  earliest 
ideas  cherished  in  his  youth,  pervaded  all  his  ordina- 
tion sermons  and  addresses  ;  and  he  pleaded  that  such 
a  ministry  should  be  supported  in  a  manner  to  elevate 
it  above  the  necessity  of  worldly  cares  and  of  temporal 
privation.  Though  very  much  of  his  own  ministry 
through  life  was  unrewarded  by  adequate  returns  of 
temporal  aid,  he  firmly  held  to  the  two  apparently  con- 
flicting ideas,  that  he  to  whom  God  gives  this  spiritual 
mission  should  go  forward  and  preach  for  life,  nor  be 


S60  MEMOIR    OF 

dissuaded  bj  poverty,  calumny  or  persecution ;  and 
that  the  people  are  not  justly  entitled  to  any  man's 
services  in  the  ministry  any  longer  than  they  continue 
to  render  the  proof  of  their  appreciation  in  the  form 
of  earthly  support,  according  to  their  ability  and  the 
reasonable  wants  of  the  minister.  Gracefully  and 
practically  did  he  know  how  to  develop  the  meaning  of 
that  apostohcal  saying,  ''  The  laborer  is  worthy  of  his 
hire."  Though,  like  John  Milton,  he  disliked  to  have 
the  minister  occupy  a  position  in  which  community  may 
justly  regard  him  as  a  feed  attorney  for  the  cause  he 
advocates,  he  also  disdained  to  foster  a  covetous, 
money- worshipping  community  under  the  name  of  a 
Christian  church.  He  was  once  heard  to  say,  that  the 
true  minister  would  live  on  browse  before  he  would 
abandon  the  cause  of  God. 

"  Three  things,"  said  he  (in  a  letter  to  a  young  man* 
who  was  about  to  begin  to  preach),  "  are  essential  to  a 
preacher.  First,  the  ability  to  discern  the  condition  and 
capacity  of  a  congregation.  Second,  an  ability  to  select 
a  subject  suited  to  their  capacity  and  wants.  Third,  skill 
to  deliver  it  in  a  manner  to  be  received  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage. How  often  you  hear  preachers  labor  on  inap- 
propriate subjects,  who  evidently  did  not  understand  the 
wants  of  their  assembly ;  and  how  frequently  you  have 
heard  a  good  subject  mutilated  and  the  assembly  disgusted 
by  bad  delivery.  The  more  natural,  easy,  simple,  and 
affectionate  a  truth  can  be  told,  the  better  and  more  last-, 
ing  effect  it  will  have." 

*  J.  J.  Harvey. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  3C)1 

On  problems  of  the  future  state,  he  did  not  largely 
speculate.  In  reply  to  some  nice  questions  touching 
his  views  of  the  details  and  minutiae  of  the  immortal 
life,  he  once  said,  "  Let  us  wait  until  we  get  there. 
Who  can  answer  these  questions  now  ?  "  He  preached 
that  virtue  leads  to  glory  eternal ;  that  vice  naturally 
proceeds  to  darkness  and  wo ;  that  revelation  gives 
hope  only  to  those  who  obey.  It  will  be  almost  in- 
variably found,  that  his  abilities  and  themes  had  strong- 
practical  bearings  ;  that  his  power  was  never  prone  to 
assume  the  merely  speculative  form. 

On  human  nature  he  was  explicit.  He  never  ad- 
mitted the  doctrine  of  original  inherent  sin ;  but  from 
the  first,  vindicated  humanity  from  the  charges  of  total 
depravity.  In  1854,  though  the  blaspheming  of  human 
nature,  common  to  the  olden  creeds,  is  theoretically 
retained,  we  seldom  hear  its  allegations  in  bold  words  ; 
but  in  1817  and  onw^ards,  it  was  otherwise.  Then  Mr. 
Badger  took  his  stand  in  behalf  of  humanity  with  a 
defence  so  wise  that  it  repelled  at  the  same  time  the 
charges  of  Calvinism  and  pleaded  the  need  of  regenera- 
tion. At  Royalton,  about  twenty-five  years  ago,  he 
spoke  on  human  nature  against  the  common  view,  so 
strongly  and  so  boldly,  that  it  caused  some  two  or  three 
ministers  who  were  with  him  in  the  desk  to  exhibit  signs 
of  surprise.  He  continued  without  the  least  deviation  ; 
and,  a  few  months  since,  one  of  the  same  gentlemen 
who  witnessed  the  scene  at  Royalton,  said,  that  the  view 
Mr.  Badger  then  gave,  was  the  one  now  hailed  with 
joy  by  the  large  masses,  the  one  which  thoughtful  minds 
are  everywhere  weaving  into  the  philosophy  of  man's 
nature  and  Ufe. 

16 


362  MEMOIR    OF 

Mr.  Badger  said,  that  there  was  partial  truth  in 
all  the  new  things  of  the  day,  in  Mesmerism,  Phre- 
nology, Fourierism,  Abolitionism,  Non-resistance,  Ad- 
ventism ;  but  that  neither  of  these  is  what  its  partisans 
make  it.  He  thought  there  was  something  superficial 
in  each  offered  remedy  of  modern  time  for  the  cure  of 
human  evils ;  that  the  Gospel,  with  its  divine  persua- 
sions, is  alone  able  to  rectify  the  condition  of  man  on 
earth.  He  thought  there  were  heads  in  the  world  that 
would  puzzle  and  confound  phrenology,  though  in  the 
main  it  mi^ht  have  the  perception  of  a  great  truth. 
The  spirit  of  his  views  would  say  —  Why  get  infatuated 
with  your  new  idea  ?  "Why  make  it  everything  ?  Why 
lose  your  balance  in  the  circle  of  your  Christian  duty, 
and  grow  dizzy-headed  on  your  one  idea,  your  darling 
ultraism  ?  He  held  that  the  world's  real  progress  is 
plain  and  slow ;  that  God's  kingdom  does  not  come  in 
coruscations  of  lightning,  or  in  the  sport  of  whirlwinds. 
"  Oh !  foolish  Galations,  who  hath  bewitched  3^ou  that 
ye  should  not  obey  the  truth  ?  "  was  the  text  of  a  very 
impressive  sermon  delivered  to  a  great  concourse  of 
people  in  June,  1845,*  in  which  he  particularized  on 
the  extremes  of  the  day,  on  the  infatuation  which 
temporarily  seizes  a  certain  class  of  men,  and  causes 
them  to  substitute  a  fragmentary  truth  for  the  whole 
Gospel,  and  for  the  whole  platform  of  human  duty. 

Church  Polity.  *'  We  have  noticed  for  more  than 
twenty  years,"  said  Mr.  B.,  "  that  the  first  ground  assumed 
by  disorganizers  is,  that '  tlie  church  is  the  highest  tribunal 
on  earth.'     Recently,  Mr.  Campbell  and  some  others  have 

♦  At  Marion,  "Wayne  County,  N.  Y. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  36o 

urged  this  doctrine  in  a  manner  and  with  explanations 
which  are  calculated  to  produce  the  worst  of  consequences. 
"  1st.  We  object  to  the  term  tribunal,  when  applied 
to  the  church.  We  not  only  regard  it  unscriptural,  but  in 
the  general  acceptation  of  the  terra  it  implies  too  much. 
It  carries  with  it  not  only  the  authority  to  constitute  a 
judgment  seat,  but  the  power  to  reward  and  punish  ;  the 
church  has  no  such  power.  God  is  a  sovereign.  His 
government  is  monarchical  —  he  has  given  his  Son  all 
authority  in  his  church,  and  the  whole  government  is 
upon  his  shoulder.  The  church  has  no  authority  to  alter 
one  of  Christ's  institutions,  nor  make  the  least  law  for 
the  government  of  his  spiritual  body.  The  business  of 
the  church  is  to  learn  of  Christ,  to  know  his  laws  and 
institutions,  and  to  walk  by  them ;  to  fear  God  and  keep 
his  commandments  is  the  whole  duty  of  man.  The 
church  has  no  power  to  bestow  rewards  nor  to  inflict 
punishments  ;  this  alone  is  the  prerogative  of  the  Great 
Head  of  the  church.  Christians  on  earth  have  less 
authority  over  each  other  than  some  imagine.  We  have 
little  to  do  with  each  other's  private  opinions  :  in  these 
matters  each  stands  or  falls,  or  is  accountable  to  his  own 
master.  To  be  sure,  we  are  authorized  to  form  an  opin- 
ion of  men  from  the  fruits  they  bring  forth  — from  the 
spirit  they  manifest ;  and  we  have  power  to  fellowship  or 
disfellowship  according  to  the  fruits  brought  forth ;  but 
we  can  inflict  no  other  punishment,  and  this  should  be 
regarded  as  a  Christian  duty  rather  than  in  the  light  of 
punishment.  As  far  as  the  church  can  exert  a  Christian 
influence  in  reclaiming  men  from  the  error  of  their  ways, 
and  as  long  as  they,  under  guidance  of  the  spirit  of  Christ, 
can  labor  for  each  other's  advancement  in  the  divine  life, 
so  long  they  can  be  useful.  But  the  moment  they  feel 
that  they  have  authority  to  punish,  and  begin  to   labor 


864  MEMOIR    OF 

under  that  impression,  they  do  mischief  in  the  flock  of 
Christ.  Thus  we  object  to  the  application  of  the  term 
*  tribunaV  to  the  church,  and  the  anti-Ciiristian  authority 
it  seems  to  impart." 

**  The  error  is  not  so  much  in  the  term  used  as  in  the 
explanations,  opinions,  and  practice  connected  with  its 
use.  We  have  seen  it  fully  carried  out  in  practice.  The 
doctrine  is  this.  Each  little  band  of  brethren  scattered 
abroad  is  the  church,  and  are  the  highest  tribunal  on 
earth.  There  is  no  appeal  from  their  decisions  ;  they  have 
power  to  try  and  exclude  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  all 
councils  or  confei*ences  composed  of  ministers  and  brethren 
are  unscriptural,  ar])itrary  and  anti-Christian.  But  the 
error  lies  at  the  starting-point  —  in  the  very  foundation. 
Those  little  bands  of  brethren  are  only  parts  of  the  great 
family  on  earth.  They  can  attend  to  their  own  internal 
affairs;  their  work  is  small,  and  in  a  very  limited  circle. 
From  such  little  decisions  we  ask  no  appeal.  They  can 
extend  fellowship  to  whom  they  please,  and  withdraw  from 
the  disorderly  ;  but  they  cannot  act  for  other  branches  of 
Zion  who  live  fifty  or  a  thousand  miles  from  them.  They 
can  hear,  encourage,  or  abandon  such  ministers  as  they 
choose,  so  far  as  their  ministry  with  them  is  concerned ; 
but  it  would  be  folly  for  them  to  attempt  to  make  or  de- 
stroy ministers  for  others.  Now  ministers  are  not  the 
property  of  one  little  branch  of  the  church  ;  they  belong 
to  the  whole  —  are  accountable  to  the  whole.  Any  branch 
of  the  church  has  a  right  to  present  a  trial  or  grief  against 
a  minister.  But  the  question  will  arise.  Who  shall  decide 
on  a  trial  thus  presented  by  a  church  against  a  minister? 
Surely  not  the  church  who  present  the  trial,  for  they  are 
the  accusing  party.  He  is  a  public  man,  all  the  churches 
are  interested  in  his  prosperity  and  in  his  impeachment. 
The  common  error  says,  the  accusing  party  must  accuse 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  .  365 

and  condemn,  for  it  is  the  highest  tribunal  on  earth.  But 
common  sense  and  common  justice  say,  Let  a  council  of 
ministers  and  brethren  from  other  churches  be  called  to 
investigate  and  decide  this  matter.  Let  the  man  have  a' 
hearing  before  a  council,  equal  in  numbers  and  authority 
to  that  which  received  or  ordained  him,  and  by  which  he 
was  inducted  into  his  holy  work  in  the  church.  We  care 
not  whether  this  assemblage  of  ministers  and  church  mem- 
bers is  called  a  council  or  a  conference  ;  if  it  possesses  the 
talent,  the  wisdom  and  light  of  the  body,  if  a  board  is 
formed  whose  just,  fair,  and  impartial  decisions  shall  re- 
ceive the  sanction,  respect,  and  confidence  of  all  the 
churches  for  whom  they  act." 

*'  Within  three  years  past  we  have  known  two  Instances 
in  which  ministers  had  fallen  into  disrepute  witli  a  part  of 
the  churches  of  their  charge.  When  trials  were  present- 
ed they  immediately  assumed  the  ground  that  the  church 
Was  the  highest  tribunal  ;  they  would  have  no  council,  nor 
ministers  in  the  case,  unless  they  could  bring  in  some  par- 
tial friend  of  theirs  who  was  prepared  to  cover  up  and 
defend  their  iniquitous  proceedings ;  they  would  be  tried 
by  the  church,  and  immediately  set  themselves  to  work  to 
secure  the  majority,  whose  first  business  it  was  to  exclude 
the  minority.  Those  ministers,  we  presume,  could  not  be 
induced  to  have  their  conduct  examined  by  a  wise,  im- 
partial, and  judicious  conference  of  elders  and  brethren ; 
yet  they  have  good  and  clean  letters  of  commend  and  jus- 
tification from  the  churches  to  which  they  belong.  Such 
ministers  as  are  not  willing  to  throw  themselves  open  to 
the  investigation  of  all  the  churches  and  all  their  brethren 
in  the  ministry,  ought  to  confine  their  labors  to  the  church 
or  party  who  has  commended  them,  and  by  whom  they 
are  willing  to  be  judged." 


366  «  MEMOIR    OF 

"  We  do  not  believe  there  is  a  church  in  the  land  who 
shall  undertake  to  exclude  their  pastor,  let  him  be  ever  so 
bad,  that  can  do  it  without  rending  their  own  body  asunder. 
A  minister,  in  ever  so  great  errors,  or  ever  so  much  fallen 
in  morality,  will  have  his  adherents  and  his  party,  and 
frequently  by  his  management  will  secure  the  majority  of 
the  church  of  his  charge.  How  many  churches  have  thus 
been  rent  asunder;  how  many  wicked  ministers  have  thus 
endeavored  to  screen  themselves  from  justice.  ''Where 
no  counsel  is,  the  people  fall ;  but  in  the  multitude  of 
counsellors  there  is  safety."     Prov.  11 :  14. 

''Having  discarded  the  idea  that  one  little  branch  of 
Zion  possesses  the  whole  authority,  we  shall  now  state 
that  the  terra  Church  is  sometimes  applied  to  a  very  small 
band  of  believers,  and  in  other  cases  it  is  applied  to  the 
whole  body  of  Christians  in  the  world.  The  church,  in 
the  general  use  of  the  word,  embraces  all  the  ministers, 
gifts,  and  members  of  Christ's  body.  When  people  have 
separated  the  ministers  from  the  congregations,  or  the 
congregations  from  the  ministers,  and  undertaken  to  do 
business  in  their  separate  capacities,  independent  of  each 
other,  when  the  business  transacted  was  of  a  public  or 
general  character,  they  have  both  materially  erred.  The 
Gospel  recognizes  ministers  and  people  as  one  body, 
united  and  cooperating  in  one  work,  advancing  the  same 
interests,  and  promoting  the  same  cause.  Their  talents 
may  be  different,  their  calling  and  gifts  various,  but  no 
one  member  can  say  to  another,  '  I  have  no  need  of  you.' 
To  take  the  church  as  a  whole,  if  it  were  proper  to  use 
the  term  '  tribunal,'  we  should  have  no  objection  to  say- 
ing it  was  the  highest  tribunal  on  earth,  that  is,  there  is 
no  earthly  court  that  has  a  right  to  control  its  decisions, 
and  there  is  no  earthly  court  to  which  it  can  appeal.  But 
Christ  and  his  revealed  will  are  still  higher  than  any 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  367 

decision  of  the  cliurch  ;  to  it  tlie  whole  church  must  bow 
with  humble  reverence,  and  say,  '  Thy  will  be  done.'  " 

**  Nothing  is  plainer  and  more  clearly  taught  in  the 
word  of  God  than  that  it  is  the  design  of  the  Gospel  that 
God's  people  should  act  in  union  as  one  family,  and  be 
the  light  of  the  world.  Under  the  old  dispensation,  when 
the  congregations  stood  in  the  counsel  of  the  Lord  and 
walked  in  his  statutes,  they  were  of  one  heart  and  of  one 
mind;  all  acted  for  the  public  good;  the  different  tribes 
often  consulted  together,  and  all  marshalled  under  the 
same  banner.  But  when  they  departed  from  the  Lord, 
each  one  did  what  was  right  in  his  own  eyes,  and  every 
one  went  to  his  own  tent.  The  entire  history  of  God's 
people  under  the  law,  shows  that  when  they  consulted  and 
acted  in  union  they  were  blessed  and  prospered  ;  and 
when  they  separated  and  acted  in  their  individual  capaci- 
ties, they  proved  the  Scripture  true,  which  says,  '  Where 
no  counsel  is,  the  people  fall.'  " 

"  But  in  the  New  Testament  the  same  principle  of  gen- 
eral consultation  is  most  clearly  exhibited  in  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  first  Christians.  The  very  nature  of  the 
Christian  religion,  the  constitution  of  the  Gospel  church, 
impose  the  duty.  The  Christian  religion  is  a  general 
system  ;  it  breaks  down  all  separations,  and  of  Jews  and 
Gentiles  forms  one  new  church.  All  Christians  are 
bound  up  in  the  same  great  interests :  they  are  of  one 
heart  and  of  one  mind.  In  the  sixth  chapter  of  Acts  of 
the  Apostles,  we  find  a  plain  account  of  the  call  and 
proeedings  of  a  Christian  Conference.  The  brethren 
brought  forward  the  candidates  for  ordination,  and  the 
ministers  laid  their  hands  on  them  and  appointed  them  to 
their  work.  Here  were  at  least  twelve  ministers  and  a 
multitude  of  brethren.  If  this  instance  stood  alone  in  the 
Bible,  we  should  think  the  Scripture  authority  for  confer- 


o6o  MEMOIR    OF 

■ 

ence  clear ;  but  it  is  not  alone.  In  tlie  fifteenth  chapter 
of  Acts,  we  have  an  account  of  a  difficulty  which  arose 
about  circumcision,  which  Paul,  Barnabas  and  the  whole 
church  at  Antioch  could  not  decide.  "When  the  apostles, 
elders,  and  a  multitude  of  brethren  were  assembled  at 
Jerusalem,  we  have  an  account  that  Peter,  Barnabas, 
Paul,  and  James  addressed  them  at  length  on  the  great 
question,  which  was  settled  to  mutual  satisfaction.  When 
this  was  done,  thej  sent  out  messengers  to  bear  their  de- 
cisions to  all  their  brethren  who  could  not  be  present. 
Here  is  another  instance  of  a  Christian  conference  doing 
business  and  deciling  questions  for  the  church  at  large. 
If  one  church  is  the  highest  tribunal,  why  did  not  the 
church  at  Antioch  put  the  question  to  rest  without  making 
so  much  expense  and  trouble  ?  It  is  plain  that  there  was 
none  of  this  childish  independence  and  authority  claimed 
by  the  primitive  churches,  about  which  the  disorganizers 
make  so  much  ado  in  the  nineteenth  century." 

Freedom  of  Discussiox.  *'  Messrs.  Editors  of  the 
Telegraph ;  *  —  I  ever  with  pleasure,  whether  at  home  or 
abroad,  grasp  the  interesting  sheet  which  is  daily  sent 
forth  from  your  office,  and  with  interest  peruse  its 
columns. 

"  Under  the  editorial  head  my  attention  was  recently 
arrested  by  the  performances  of  a  writer  who  styles 
himself  B.,  who,  after  a  tedious  preamble,  brings  forth 
what  he  is  pleased  to  style,  '  A  rare  collection  of 
geniuses  ; '  and  although  he  looks  into  contempt  the  spec- 
ulations of  the  humble  Capt.  Sims,  tramples  with  impunity 
on  the  honors  of  Gov.  Morril,  proclaims  on  the  house-top 
the  vanity  and  folly  of  Gov.  Clinton,  Lieut.  Gov.  Pitcher, 
Gen.  Root,  J.  Y.  N.  Yates,  Dr.  Beck,  and  the  whole 
faculty  of  Hamilton  College,  we  think  he  leaves  us  proof 

♦  1828. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER. 

among  his  heterogeneous  labors  that  he  must  be  ranked 
among  the  rare  wits  of  our  times.  "What  he  says  of 
Capt.  Sims  strikes  me  as  a  piece  of  base  cowardice,  as  the 
theory  of  Capt.  S.  is  very  unpopular.  Capt.  Sims,  as  I 
understand  him,  is  convinced,  from  long  and  arduous  study, 
that  further  northern  discoveries  ought  to  be  made.  This 
is  the  burden  of  his  labors.  To  this  idea  the  American 
Congress  and  every  thinking  man  must  consent.  I  heard 
his  lectures  at  Cincinnati,  and  regard  him  as  an  honest, 
independent  man.  As  the  President  has  recommended 
northern  explorations,  I  sincerely  hope  that  important 
discoveries  will  be  made.  Though  Mr.  Sims's  theory  ia 
now  very  unpopular,  is  it  more  so  than  was  the  revolution 
of  the  earth  when  first  published  by  Galileo  ?  The  pro- 
jects of  Columbus  were  ridiculed  ;  the  American  Revolu- 
tion was  sneered  at  by  our  proud  foes  of  the  east.  Even 
the  mission  of  the  Saviour  was  treated  with  the  utmost 
contempt.  How  careful,  Sirs,  ought  we  to  be  in  opposing 
new  views,  and  in  guarding  ourselves  and  others  against 
the  spirit  of  persecution." 

* 
We  oflfer  the  following  on  the  tragical  fate  of  Love- 
joy,  as  appropriate  to  this  subject : 

"  The  riot  which  recently  took  place  in  Alton,  111.,  in 
which  two  citizens  lost  their  lives,  is  one  of  the  most  dis- 
graceful events  that  ever  stained  the  character  of  our 
country.  The  mayor  must  have  been  guilty  of  gross 
negligence,  for  from  what  had  transpired  he  ought  to  have 
been  fully  prepared  for  it.  Had  an  efl&cient  man  been  in 
his  place,  clothed  with  his  authority,  the  property  and 
life  of  the  innocent  might  have  been  protected,  and  a 
ruthless  mob  would  have  been  taught  a  lesson  which  would 
have  cured  their  propensity  for  that  kind  of  diversion. 
16* 


370  MEMOIR    OF 

The  destruction  of  fifty  of  those  lawless  midnight  assassins 
would  have  been  a  trifle  compared  with  the  loss  of  one 
peaceable,  honorable  man  in  the  lawful  discharge  of  his 
duty.  It  is  said  that  the  Attorney  General  of  the  State, 
and  a  clergyman,  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and  made 
speeches  to  influence  and  encourage  the  mob,  and  that 
several  respectable  citizens  M-ere  among  the  number.  Oh, 
shame  !  Has  our  country  come  to  this  ?  Can  it  be  that 
there  is  a  man  in  Illinois  who  makes  the  least  pretension 
to  respectability  or  morality,  who  would  encourage  or 
countenance  for  a  moment  such  an  infringement  upon  the 
laws  of  God  and  man  ?  We  think  little,  very  little,  of 
such  respectability,  of  such  oificers,  such  attorneys,  and 
such  clergymen.     We  say — 

♦  Strip  the  miscreants  of  the  robes  they  stain, 
And  drive  them  from  the  altars  they  profane.' 

"What  can  men  expect  to  gain  by  associating  as 
mobs  ?  No  honorable  object  was  ever  accomplished  by 
cruelty  and  oppression.  No  righteous  cause  requires  such 
measures.  This  outrage  will  defeat  its  own  object ;  it  will 
increase  and  excite  the  sympathies  of  the  people,  and  ad- 
vance the  cause  it  intends  to  destroy,  tenfold.  Funds 
will  be  raised,  and  valiant  men  enough  will  be  found 
who  will  cheerfully  volunteer  to  raise  the  standard  of 
liberty  and  free  discussion  on  the  very  spot  where 
their  brave  brother  has  fallen  a  martyr.  Men  in  such 
cases  will  not  count  their  lives  dear  unto  themselves ; 
there  are  hundreds  ready  to  be  offered  upon  the  same 
altar.  Not  only  so,  but  the  blood  of  this  innocent  man 
crieth  from  the  ground  for  vengeance,  and  there  is  a 
righteous  God  in  heaven  who  regards  the  condition  of 
the  oppressed,  and  who  •will  not  let  the  wicked  go  un- 
punished. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  371 

"  The  people  of  Boston,  New  York,  and  Cincinnati, 
have  tried  the  virtue  of  mobs,  to  put  down  free  discussion, 
and  what  has  been  tlie  result  ?  Why,  it  has  increased, 
strengthened  and  built  up  the  persecuted  party.  The 
destruction  of  one  printing-press  will  only  raise  up  ten  to 
speak  and  plead  for  the  liberty  of  the  press.  The 
murder  of  one  Morgan  will  raise  up  thousands  to  redres-* 
his  injuries.  In  our  eastern  cities,  where  we  have  efficie^it 
and  enlightened  officers,  mobs  are  immediately  put  down, 
but  at  Alton  and  St.  Louis  society  must  be  in  a  deplorable 
state. 

"  Mr.  Lovejoy,  we  have  ever  understood,  was  a  respect- 
able citizen,  a  man  of  talent,  and  a  zealous  minister  of  the 
Gospel.  He  had  a  right  to  enjoy  his  opinions  ;  he  had  a 
right  to  use  the  press,  that  great  engine  of  liberty,  in  pro- 
pagating his  views;  and  none  had  a  right  to  molest  him. 
His  zeal  no  doubt  led  him  to  adopt  strong  measures  ia 
vindicating  his  own  interest  and  the  cause  to  which  his 
energies  were  devoted.  He  acted  in  his  own  defence 
upon  the  principle  of  justice  as  a  citizen.  If  he  had 
slain  a  score  of  his  opponents  under  these  circumstances, 
the  laws  of  the  land  would  have  held  him  guiltless.  But 
still  the  course  was  an  unfortunate  one.  The  New  Testa- 
ment and  the  Christian  Spirit  teach  us,  as  children  of  the 
Prince  of  Peace,  a  more  excellent  way  :  *  Resist  not  evil  * 
— '  Put  up  thy  sword  into  its  sheath  ' — *  Be  patient  in 
tribulation' — '  If  ye  are  persecuted,  revile  not.' 

"  The  friends  who  were  leaders  in  the  English  reform, 
persevered  over  thirty  years  firm  and  faithful,  without 
slander,  war  or  bloodshed.  They  had  the  utmost  confi- 
dence in  the  justice  and  righteousness  of  their  cause ; 
they  were  patient  under  persecutions,  were  meek  and 
humble  in  every  defeat,  and  the  light  at  length  shone  and 
they  triumphed.     Here  is  a  beautiful  model  for  American 


372  MEMOIR    OP 

reformers.  Light  and  truth  should  be  the  only- 
weapons  used  in  accomplishing  great  moral,  benevolent 
and  religious  objects.  Christians  in  all  laudable  enter- 
prises should  be  meek  and  humble,  should  possess  much 
of  the  spirit  of  their  holy  Master,  render  good  for  evil, 
and  conquer  all  opposition  with  love." 

*'  Ordinances. — Herein  we  see  the  benefit  of  institu- 
tions and  images  by  which  past  events  are  preserved  by 
us  and  transmitted  to  posterity.  National  events,  Jewish, 
Roman,  Pagan,  and  Christian  ordinances,  are  speaking 
things,  which,  as  soon  as  they  are  abandoned,  the  events 
on  which  they  are  founded,  the  impressions  and  ideas 
associated  with  them,  are  lost." 

At  the  present  time,  there  are  a  few  indications  that 
the  active  theological  minds  of  the  country  may  at 
some  distant  day  fall  under  two  general  classifications, 
which,  for  the  want  of  a  better  expression  at  hand,  we 
may  call  the  centralizers  and  universalizers.  The  latter 
resolve  religion  wholly  into  abstract  ideas  and  principles 
which  freely  range  through  the  whole  empire  of  spirit, 
as  gravitation,  electricity  and  light  operate  through  all 
space.  Such  rally  about  no  personal  centre.  The 
former  seek  the  abstract  principles  of  religion  only,  or 
chiefly  in  their  personal  investments,  and  look  for  their 
eflfective  radiance  in  a  mediator.  This  class,  for  rea^- 
sons  needless  to  be  discussed  at  this  time,  are  from 
necessity  the  great  mass,  the  organized  activity  of  the 
religious  sentiment ;  and  though  Mr.  Badger  had  much 
catholicity  in  his  faith  and  practice,  nothing  is  plainer 
than  that  he  centralized  all  in  Christ,  who,  to  him, 
was  the  untiring  sun  in  the  solar  system  of  God's  im- 
partial favor.     Thus  speaks  the  following  letter  :  — 


RET.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  373 

'*  HoNEOYE  Falls,  August,  1845. 
'*  Br.  Ross,  —  I  am  now  better  in  health,  and  am  try- 
ing to  go  ahead  with  what  little  ability  I  have,  in  the  one, 
single,  simple  work  of  preaching  the  blessed  Gospel.  Am 
I  right,  or  should  I  be  a  political  minister,  and  conform  to 
the  practice  of  this  corrupt  age,  and  present  to  my  hear- 
ers a  chowder  compound  ?  I  follow  St.  Paul's  old,  obso- 
lete theology  of  knowing  nothing  among  the  people  save 
Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


MINISTRY,   PUBLISHED    WRITINGS   AND    IMPORTANT 
EVENTS,  FROM  MAY,  1839,  TO  MARCH,  1848. 

On  leaving  the  Palladium  office,  in  1839,  Mr. 
Badger  repaired  to  his  residence  at  Honeoye  Falls, 
Monroe  County,  New  York,  where  his  friends  built 
for  themselves  a  new  and  commodious  chapel,  the 
best  in  the  town;  it  was  dedicated  by  Mr.  Badger 
in  1840.  He  was  unanimously  chosen  pastor  of  this 
society.  He  was  now  in  the  centre  of  his  former  field 
of  labors,  a  field  he  had  occupied  nearly  twenty  years. 
His  congregations  were  large,  equal  at  that  time,  it 
was  stated,  to  the  other  four  congregations  combined. 
The  pastoral  relation  furnished  him  a  good  field  for 
success,  as  his  wise  management,  social  spirit,  attract- 
ive preaching,  and  compromising,  concihating  turn 
of  mind,  gave  him  strong  ability  for  establishing  and 


374  MEMOIR    OF 

enlarging  the  prosperity  of  a  new  congregation.     He 
held  this  relation  till  the  autumn  of  1842. 

But  the  death  of  his  second  son,  Joseph  Badger, 
Jr.,  who  died  May  27,  1839,  in  the  sixteenth  year  of 
his  age,  was  indeed  an  affliction  that  deeply  shaded 
his  spirit.  He  was  a  noble  and  an  ingenious  youth. 
He  had  fine  abilities,  was  truthful  and  genial ;  and 
in  the  execution  of  business  plans,  so  far  certainly  as 
they  related  to  publishing,  he  was  his  father's  main 
reliance.  Great  were  the  parental  affections  that 
centred  in  him ;  and  when  he  departed,  the  gigantic 
spirit  of  his  father,  which  had  ever  dealt  easily  with 
great  adversity,  now  was  deeply  stirred,  like  the 
patriarch's  of  ancient  time.  Though  he  shed  no  tear 
over  the  death  of  his  son,  though  he  opposed  a  serene 
temper  and  countenance  to  the  great  bereavement, 
no  event  had  ever  bowed  him  so  deeply,  or  struck 
so  centrally  into  his  inward  composure  and  peace. 
Often,  as  night  came  on,  refusing  his  accustomed 
slumber,  he  walked  the  garden  in  lonely  meditations, 
and  blended  with  the  serious  light  of  moon  and  stars 
the  more  sober  "VNorkings  of  his  o^vn  mind.  Never 
before  had  calamity  the  power  to  bring  out  the  evi- 
dences of  a  deeply  disturbed  and  broken  spirit ;  and 
these  were  now  so  well  controlled  by  him,  that  the 
world  neither  saw  nor  dreamed  of  their  existence.  At 
times,  he  arose  from  his  nightly  rest  to  walk  the 
grounds  of  his  pleasant  mansion,  and  for  hours  seemed 
to  invite  the  holy  and  beautiful  sympathy  of  nature  to 
soften  his  grief.  Deep,  exceedingly  deep  was  this 
sorrow  over  his  worthy  son. 


KEY.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  375 

There  were  plans  occupying  his  mind  at  tins  time, 
■which,  though  unannounced  to  the  world,  were  of 
large  moment.  Aside  from  ministerial  duties,  at  home 
and  abroad,  he  contemplated  the  publication  of  several 
works.  He  intended  to  have  given  the  world  the  biog- 
raphy of  several  distinguished  ministers  whose  lives 
were  closed  in  the  field  of  arduous  labor.  Amonir 
these,  he  had  selected,  for  a  prominent  place,  the  life 
and  writings  of  Joseph  Thomas,  of  Ohio,  a  man  of  elo- 
quence and  interesting  ability.  All  the  materials  for 
this  book  now  lie  in  INIr.  Badger's  desk,  in  the  order 
in  which  he  arranged  them.  In  ministerial  biography, 
how  capable  had  been  his  pen  !  His  acquaintance  and 
experience  were  so  extensive  that,  from  memory  alone, 
he  could  have  drawn  the  largest  contributions  for  his 
object.  He  had  also  determined  on  editing  a  Church 
History  which  should  have  reflected  the  success  of 
Christian  principles  preached  for  half  a  century.  In 
this,  also,  how  largely  was  he  quahfied  to  do  justice  to 
his  undertaking !  No  inconsiderable  quantity  of  mate- 
rial gathered  for  this  purpose  now  remains  in  his  libra- 
ry ;  but  the  hand  that  would  have  edited  them  is 
motionless  for  ever,  and  the  son  whose  age  and  capa- 
city then  qualified  him  to  second  and  to  render  effect- 
ual his  enterprises,  was  taken  from  the  earth.  Not- 
withstanding these  breaks  in  these  cherished  aims,  his 
life  continued  active,  and  the  churches  felt  the  weight 
of  his  counsel  and  the  worth  of  his  influence. 

In  June,  he  attended  three  conferences  in  the  State  ; 
at  Rock  Stream,  Yates  County,  where  the  attendance 
of  both  ministers  and  people  was  great,  he  preached, 
on  Saturday,  a  sermon  of  marked  character,  full  of  the 


376  MEMom  OP 

calm  and  harmonizing  spirit  of  Christianity,  founded 
on  Ps.  119 :  165  :  "  Great  peace  have  they  which  love 
thy  law,  and  nothing  shall  oflfend  them."  It  had  a 
visible  influence,  it  was  thought,  on  the  proceedings  of 
the  body,  and  on  the  tone  of  all  the  meetings.  In 
dwelUng  on  the  peace  of  the  divine  law,  he  spoke  of 
the  trials  of  brethren  against  each  other  as  wholly 
wrong  ;  as  unnecessary  ;  he  dwelt  on  the  repose  of 
spirit,  on  the  fine  feelings  and  peaceful  sentiments  of 
the  true  Christian,  explaining  the  latter  part  of  the 
passage  as  meaning  that  "  nothing  shall  cause  them  to 
offend."  At  this  time,  he  was  appointed  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  education,  who  met  in  the  new  chapel 
at  Iloneoye  Falls,  September,  1839,  and  there  decided 
the  location  of  the  contemplated  seminary  in  favor  of 
Starkey,  N.  Y. 

This  season,  Mr.  Badger  attended  several  dedica- 
tions of  new  chapels  in  western  New  York ;  one  at 
Union  Springs,  on  the  shores  of  the  Cayuga,  one  at 
Searsburg,  one  at  York,  one  at  Laona  ;  whether  he 
was  present  at  the  dedication  of  the  churches  at 
Spring  water  and  Machias,  no  evidence  informs  us. 
At  Marion,  AVayne  County,  N.  Y.,  September,  1840, 
he  preached  eleven  sermons,  which  were  followed  by 
good  effects.  I  here  quote  a  paragraph,  as  it  embod- 
ies his  opinion  on  the  subject  of  revivals  : 

*•  Some  would  call  our  meeting  at  Marion  a  protracted 
effort ;  but  I  care  not  what  it  is  called,  provided  God  is 
honored  and  souls  are  saved.  A  protracted  meeting,  con- 
ducted by  enthusiastic,  proud,  extravagant,  and  ranting 
leaders,  is  a  curse  to  any  well-organized  congregation. 


REV.    JOSErU    BADGER.  377 

Some  men  think  it  is  no  matter  what  means  are  em- 
ployed if  an  effect  is  produced ;  the  end  ^Yill  justify  the 
means.  But  this  is  a  dangerous  sentiment.  Let  a  meet- 
ing be  conducted  for  days  or  weeks,  with  prudence,  can- 
dor and  solemnity,  let  an  appeal  be  made  to  the  under- 
standing of  rational  men,  let  their  judgment  be  informed  ; 
then  the  experience  will  be  sound,  the  etreet  lasting,  and 
.the  revival  will  be  a  blessing  and  an  honor  to  any  con- 
gregation." 

It  were,  indeed,  a  lengthy  task  to  record  the  his- 
tory, in  detail,  of  his  various  labors  from  1840  to  1848. 
Justice,  however,  demands  a  condensed  statement  of 
facts.  In  1840,  his  labors  "were  very  successful  in 
Stafford,  Genesee  County,  N.  Y.  About  sixty  were 
added  to  the  church.  Under  his  labors,  the  Christian 
society  of  that  place  merged  out  of  many  discourage- 
ments. In  the  spring  of  1841,  he  speaks  of  a  revival 
in  his  own  assembly ;  of  some  sixty  who  had  made 
religion  a  fact  of  inward  experience  ;  of  the  reception 
of  about  forty  members  into  his  church  ;  of  the  bap- 
tism, at  one  time,  April  25th,  of  twenty-nine  persons 
in  the  waters  of  the  Iloneoye  ;  of  other  important  sea- 
sons of  administering  this  symbolical  rite  to  persons  in 
whom  had  just  opened  the  new  epoch  of  a  spiritual 
life.  The  first  year  of  his  retirement  from  editorial 
labor  was  spent  in  considerable  devotion  to  study  and 
reflection.  This  year,  he  visited  Castile,  Wyoming 
County,  N.  Y.  ;  also  several  other  places  whose  con- 
dition required  his  assistance.     He  said  : 

"  No  energy  should  be  suffered  to  slumber,  no  rational 
and  scriptural  means  should  be  left  unimproved,  for  the 


378  MEMOIR    OF 

conversion  of  sinners,  and  the  perfection  and  holiness  of 
the  church  of  God.  In  such  exciting  times  as  these,  what 
a  steady  and  constant  care  should  every  Christian  exer- 
cise in  order  to  *  discern  between  the  precious  and  the 
vile,'  and  be  suitably  guarded  against  the  extravagant  in- 
ventions of  men,  which  direct  the  mind  from  Christ  and 
from  that  holy  work  which  devolves  upon  our  hands  as 
disciples.  How  many  have  followed  vain  speculations 
and  empty  theories  until  they  have  lost  their  Christian 
meekness  and  zeal,  and  have  become  proud,  haughty, 
heady,  self-righteous  sectarians,  the  sport  of  the  infidel, 
or  stumbling-block  to  sinners,  and  a  reproach  to  the  cause 
of  God.  In  this  state  of  things,  ministers  should  be 
awake,  divested  of  the  world,  harnessed  for  the  holy  war, 
and,  in  Christian  meekness,  should  lay  the  axe  at  the  root 
of  every  evil  tree,  whether  within  or  without  the  church. 
In  this  view  of  things,  I  have  not  dared  to  engage  in  any 
worldly  enterprise,  and  now  feel  strong,  as  in  my  youth, 
to  go  forth  into  the  harvest  of  the  Lord.  It  will  be  thirty 
years  next  August  since  I  engaged  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  I  mourn  that  I  have  done  no  more  good.  The 
past  year,  I  have  preached  as  many  sermons,  and  labored 
as  hard,  as  in  any  other  year  of  my  life,  and  I  trust  it  has 
not  been  in  vain.  To  be  useful  to  the  souls  of  men,  to 
produce  a  healthy  and  saving  influence  in  the  church, 
should  be  the  great  motive  to  govern  all  good  ministers 
of  our  Lord.  With  this  object  in  view,  every  man  who 
puts  forth  an  untiring  effort  will  assuredly  see  the  fruit 
of  his  labor." 

"  When  our  American  fathers  fought  for  liberty,  the 
love  of  country  inspired  their  bold  and  worthy  devotion. 
Their  voluntary  suffering  and  sacrifices  were  the  loud 
clarions  to  proclaim  immortality  upon  their  names  and 
virtues.     It  is  so  with  ministers  and  people ;  where  a  suit- 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  379 

able  degree  of  love  to  the  Redeemer's  cause  is  felt,  the 
sacrifices  will  be  voluntary  and  hearty,  and  the  blessing 
is  sure  to  follow  as  that  they  put  forth  a  suitable  effort 
from  the  right  motive.  But  we  too  often  ask  and  receive 
not,  because  we  ask  amiss,  by  asking  or  laboring  with  a 
wrong  or  impure  desire.  Whether  the  minister  is  suit- 
ably remunerated  or  not,  he  should  do  all  he  can  for  the 
cause  of  God,  and  leave  his  hearers  to  answer  in  the  judg- 
ment for  their  treatment  to  him.  Let  us,  as  ministers 
and  people,  do  our  duty,  come  what  will.  It  will  be  a 
poor  apology  for  a  minister  in  the  judgment  day,  when 
asked  why  he  was  no  more  active  in  God's  vineyard,  to 
say  that  he  was  poorly  paid  ;  and  it  will  be  a  poor  apology 
for  the  miserly  professor,  when  asked  why  he  has  sus- 
tained the  Gospel  ministry  no  better,  to  say  he  did  not 
like  the  minister,  that  he  never  signed  subscriptions,  or 
any  of  the  thousand  excuses  the  covetous  urge  in  this  life» 
When  we  behold  all  the  beauty  of  nature,  all  the  splen- 
did works  of  art,  and  all  the  wealth  of  this  vast  world 
melted  down  in  the  general  conflagration,  how  will  Chris- 
tians mourn  over  the  pernicious  worldly  spirit  which  has 
choked  the  good  seed,  rendered  them  nearly  useless  in 
the  church,  and  presented  them  mere  dwarfs  in  the  pres- 
ence of  God.  Oh,  foolish  Christians,  to  be  so  worldly 
now ;  of  what  blessings  do  you  deprive  yourselves  in  this 
life,  and  what  a  reward  you  lose  in  heaven  !  Oh,  pre- 
cious Zion,  how  she  bleeds  and  suffers,  and  how  indiffer- 
ent her  professed  friends  !  Who  will  put  forth  a  helping 
hand  to  rebuild  her  waste  places  ?  " 

As  his  own  congregation  was  now  established  on  a 
good  foundation,  numbering  upwards  of  a  hundred 
members,  he  began  to  think  of  devoting  his  labors  one 
half  of  the  time  to  the  churches  generally,  to  raise  in 


380  MEMOIR    OF 

them  a  higher  tone  of  religious  feeling.  In  the  winter 
of  1842  he  visited  Yates  Countj,  preached  thirty-one 
sermons  in  the  village  of  Dundee  to  large  assemblies. 
His  sermon  on  temperance  raised  one  hundred  and 
four  signers  to  the  pledge  ;  his  personal  visits  to  the 
liquor-sellers  took  every  drop  from  their  stores,  so  that 
none  of  it  could  be  bought.  His  sermon  on  profane 
swearing  changed  the  tone  of  language  among  young 
men,  and  gave  rise  among  them  to  an  association 
whose  object  was  the  cultivation  of  a  pure  speech. 
Being  unable  this  year  to  comply  with  the  invitation  of 
his  brethren  in  Michigan  to  attend  their  Conference, 
he  addressed  them  a  letter,  in  which  he  offered  the 
counsels  he  supposed  adapted  to  their  condition  in  a 
new  country,  among  which  was  the  idea,  that  if  they 
would  prosper  as  a  people,  they  should,  in  building 
chapels,  be  careful  to  select  the  best  locations,  to  build 
in  thriving  villages  and  in  cities ;  for  he  pleaded  that  a 
village,  however  small  or  wicked  it  might  be,  is  a  far 
better  location  than  can  be  gained  a  mile  or  so  distant, 
inasmuch  as  it  is  sure  to  finally  centralize  the  interest 
of  the  surrounding  region. 

In  the  fall  of  1842,  Mr.  Badger  resigned  his  pasto- 
ral care  of  the  church  at  Honeoye  Falls,  that  he  might 
travel  among  the  churches,  and  be  free  to  attend  the 
many  calls  for  ordination,  dedication,  and  other  services 
that  were  made  upon  his  time  and  labor  from  abroad. 
This  separation  was  in  the  kindest  feeling,  and  on  the 
part  of  the  society  was  accompanied  by  a  commendatory 
letter  that  expressed  the  highest  regard  for  his  services 
and  character,  a  regard  based  on  an  acquaintance  of 
twenty  five  years.     The  society,  with  the  counsel  and 


REV.    JOSErn    BADGER.  381 

approval  of  their  former  pastor,  engaged  the  labors  of 
Rev.  Oliver  Barr,  whose  tragical  death  in  the  late 
railroad  disaster  at  Norwalk,  May  Gth,  1853,  has  given 
occasion  to  many  expressions  of  appreciation  and  sym- 
pathy. Under  the  labors  of  Mr.  Badger,  this  society 
stood  on  a  sohd  basis  of  prosperity  and  union  ;  all  in 
all,  their  position  was  stronger  and  their  influence 
sounder  under  his  pastoral  care  than  they  ever  have 
been  since  they  were  organized  as  a  church.  Mr. 
Badger  is  again  free  to  obey  the  miscellaneous  calls  of 
his  brethren  and  of  the  community  in  general,  De- 
cember 7th,  he  attended  the  dedication  of  the  church 
at  Shelby  ;  the  8th,  he  preached  the  ordination  sermon 
of  Chester  Covel,  and  for  several  weeks  continued 
meetings  with  success.  He  valued  this  revival,  be- 
cause its  subjects  were  persons  of  character,  talent  and 
influence,  "  who  would  do  honor  to  any  cause,"  and 
because  they  embraced  Christianity  understandingly, 
and  not  from  excitement  and  fear.  "  Where  men  are 
frightened,  abused  and  stormed  into  sectarian  meas- 
ures," said  Mr.  B.,  "  they  may  make  professions,  and 
like  slaves  may  submit  to  Christian  ordinances,  but 
they  will  seldom  walk  worthy  of  their  avocation.  Such 
persons  will  generally  make  warm  partisans  and  proud 
worldly  professors,  rather  than  humble,  useful  Chris- 
tians." He  also  visited  Ogden  and  Barry,  and  gave 
several  discourses.  He  did  not  preach  six  sermons  in 
any  place  during  his  labors  in  the  bounds  of  the  West- 
ern Conference,  without  seeing  a  revival  commence. 
He  speaks  highly  of  that  association  of  churches  and 
ministers. 

The  latter  part  of  the  winter,  1843,  he  visited  the 


382  MEMOIR    OF 

congregation  of  Rev.  C.  E.  Morrill,  at  Union  Springs, 
Cajuga  County,  N.  Y.,  and  delivered  over  twenty 
sermons  to  his  people ;  under  their  united  labors  sev- 
eral were  converted  to  God.  Soon  after  this,  he 
visited  Lakeville,  twelve  miles  south  of  his  residence, 
where,  twenty-five  jesirs  previous,  he  had  assisted  to 
organize  a  church,  and  had,  for  the  first  nine  years  of 
their  history,  held  the  pastoral  charge  over  them.  Here 
he  continued  his  efforts  for  three  weeks,  baptized 
twenty  persons,  collected  and  concentrated  the  scat- 
tered strength  of  the  society,  and  continued  with  them 
one  half  of  the  time  through  the  year.  They  put  on 
Btrength  and  were  revived.  lie  speaks  of  the  general 
complaint  throughout  the  country  of  religion  being  at 
a  low  ebb,  as  having  its  primary  cause  in  the  wild  zeal 
with  which  new  theories  are  pursued  to  the  neglect  of 
prayer,  the  church,  the  simple  Gospel  and  its  claims. 
He  strongly  persuades  professmg  Christians  to  return 
with  fresh  zeal  to  their  holy  devotions,  to  the  simplicity 
of  the  means  of  grace  as  their  only  hope  for  securing 
the  prosperity  of  Zion. 

*'  What  a  state  society  has  been  in  for  two  years  past.* 
The  sun  is  darkened  by  the  locusts  from  the  bottomless 
pit,  and  the  Christian  atmosphere  in  every  neighborhood 
in  the  land  seems  impregnated  with  some  poisonous  vapor 
to  ruin  the  soul  and  to  paralyze  the  energies  of  the  inno- 
cent child  of  God.  Never  shall  we  see  the  evil  remedied 
until  ministers  come  home  to  the  gospel,  rely  on  (hat,  and 
on  that  alone,  for  the  salvation  of  men ;  know  nothing 
among  the  people  but  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified  ; 
leave  their  wild  speculations,  encourage  the  improvement 

♦  January,  1844. 


KEV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  383 

of  all  the  gifts  in  Zion,  and  teach  and  encourage  practical 
religion  in  every  heart.  Never  shall  we  be  delivered 
from  the  incubus  that  hangs  so  heavily  upon  us  until 
church  members  leave  their  high-headed  racing  after  new 
theories  and  come  home  to  the  prayer  meeting  and  con- 
ference, be  content  with  the  simplicity  of  the  Gospel,  know 
their  Master's  will  and  do  it,  and  sit  at  the  feet  of  Jesus 
clothed  and  in  their  right  mind. 

In  September,  1843,  the  death  of  his  son-in-law, 
Rev.  Scth  Marvin,  a  man  of  good  ability,  of  fine  and 
noble  nature,  of  rich  fountains  of  religious  experience, 
and  of  an  oriitory  peculiarly  divine  for  the  awakening 
of  all  the  heavenward  feelmgs  of  the  human  heart,  was 
an  event  that  called  out  the  sympathies  of  his  inmost 
life;  and  in  the  Palladium,  vol.  12,  p.  97,  is  a  long 
obituary  from  his  pen,  possessing  the  grace  of  tender 
love,  combined  with  a  clear,  comprehensive  statement 
of  the  life  and  qualities  of  that  lamented  man. 

To  this  year  also  belongs  his  action  in  regard  to  that 
great  excitement,  which  took  a  temporary  hold  on  the 
different  denominations,  known  under  the  name  of 
Millerism.  Though  we  would  speak  reverently  of  every 
form  of  human  hope,  regarding  all  that  is  strong  in 
religious  phenomena  as  being  at  least  mythologically 
true,  we  cannot  but  honor  the  independent  position  Mr. 
Badger  assumed  on  this  subject,  at  a  time  when  many 
others  either  embraced  the  doctrine,  or  favored  it  as  a 
means  of  promoting  popular  revivals  in  their  congre- 
gations. With  a  clear  vision  he  penetrated  its  claims, 
acknowledged  the  degree  of  truth  he  thought  it  con- 
tained, then  spoke  of  its  defects  of  doctrine,  logic,  and 


384  MEMOIR    OF 

temper,  declaring  its  probable  future  results  on  the 
welfare  of  religion  and  the  cburches.  He  early  saw 
the  effect  in  the  cause,  and  in  1842,  withstood  the 
tendency  of  the  paper  he  had  so  long  conducted,  whose 
editor  was  then  guiding  it  into  the  service  of  that  sys- 
tem. 

Let  it  not  be  thought  that  we  speak  sectarianly  on 
the  subject  here  introduced,  for  substantially  we  con- 
cede all  that  man  ever  has  or  can  hope  for.  ''  New 
heavens  and  new  earth  "  were  promised  us  in  1843  ; 
and  though  Nature  did  not  condescend  even  to  frown  or 
smile  at  those  who  told  her  fortune,  she  knows  very 
well  that  new  heavens  and  new  earth  will  ultimately 
come.  The  progress  of  the  solar  system  through  space 
will  alone  bring  new  heavens  physically  ;  and  changes 
now  at  work  in  terrestrial  nature  shall  yet  exhibit  a 
new  earth.  Be  patient ;  myriads  of  3^ear3,  which  are 
God's  seconds,  will  do  the  work.  Is"  not  the  earth  now 
good  enough  for  thee,  thou  latter-day  saint  ?  Be 
patient ;  it  is  now  much  better  than  you  are  ;  it  flowers 
are  more  fragrant  than  your  virtues,  its  fountains  are 
purer  than  your  actions,  its  music  of  bird  and  brook 
is  sweeter  than  your  Sabbath  melody,  and  it  rolls  in  its 
orbit  far  more  majestically  and  truthfully  than  you  have 
ever  pursued  the  circuit  of  your  duties.  He  who  has 
divine  life  in  him  always  sees  a  new  earth  and  a  new 
heaven.  "  The  Lord  shall  come  ;  "  yes,  more  and 
more  in  proportion  as  man  is  capable  of  receiving  him. 
He  has  come,  does  come,  and  shall  come  ;  and  in  the 
3}Tnbolical,  higher  sense,  who  that  believes  in  God  or 
man  dares  to  despair  of  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth 
in  the  mental,  moral,  and  social  conditions  of  humanity  ? 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  385 

"Who  does  not  hope  for  a  more  perfect  state  ?  In  the 
great  substance  of  these  questions  there  is  never  a 
quarrel ;  this  only  fastens  on  the  details  which  make  up 
the  form.  Texts  may  he  skilfully  quoted  ;  but  we  are 
to  reverence  the  whole  of  God's  scripture.  Creation 
is  full  of  holy,  living  texts  ;  and  he  who  sees  His  laws 
in  nature  as  an  everlasting  scripture  will  never  be 
moved  by  alarming  interpretations  that  men  may  put 
on  the  visions  of  Patmos  and  Palestine,  or  the  princely 
dreams  of  old  Assyria.  Mr.  Badger  believed,  doubt- 
less, in  the  personal  second  coming  of  Christ ;  he  held 
firmly  to  the  law  and  the  prophets ;  but  there  was  a 
certain  sometliing  in  him  which  no  proof  texts  could 
ever  dupe  into  theories  anti-common  sense  or  anti-natu- 
ral. \Ye  give  a  few  quotations,  which  show  earnest- 
ness, decision  and  strength. 

"  Mr.  Editor  :  Sir,* —  Night  before  last  the  Palladium 
came  to  hand,  which  I  hastily  read,  and  retired  from  the 
scene  with  disgust.  Last  evening  I  read  carefully  the 
articles  which  to  me  were  offensive,  with  the  hope  that  I 
might  be  so  far  reconciled  as  to  excuse  myself  from  the 
task  of  offering  my  dissent  publicly  to  some  opinions  which 
you  have  taught  and  endorsed.  But,  Sir,  I  retired  again 
with  grief  and  increased  dissatisfaction.  I  said,  Is  it  pos- 
sible that  I  have  lived  to  see  the  '  Palladium,'  which  was 
brought  into  existence  by  a  few  choice  spirits,  (some  of 
whom  are  gone  to  their  graves,)  over  whose  destinies  for 
seven  long  years  I  watched  with  such  vigilance,  now  be- 
come the  slave  of  a  deluded  party,  and  a  channel  through 
which  error,  delusion  and  ruin  shall  be   poured   into   the 

•  To  Joseph  Marsli,  Editor  of  the  Palladium. 

17 


386  MEMOIR    OF 

bosom  of  the  churcli  of  God  ?  I  have  not  written  for  the 
Palladium  these  many  months  only  when  I  could  not  avoid 
it ;  and  would  not  now  if  a  sense  of  my  duty  to  the  public 
would  allow  my  pen  longer  to  slumber. 

"  The  error  of  which  I  complain  is  not  that  you  and 
Others  teach  that  the  Saviour  will  come  personally  the 
second  time,  to  reward  his  saints  and  destroy  his  enemies. 
This  all  Christians  believe.  But  the  great  error  lies  in  the 
fact  tiiat  Mr.  Miller  and  his  followers  teach  what  plainly 
contradicts  common  sense  and  existing  facts  in  relation  to 
the  Ottoman  dominion  and  the  Holy  Bible.  They  teach 
that  Christ  has  no  kingdom  on  earth  ;  of  course,  no  laws, 
no  subjects,  no  institutions,  and  no  government.  Also 
they  fix  the  time  of  the  Saviour's  coming.  In  this  they 
assume  to  be  more  knowing  than  the  angels  of  God,  or 
Jesus  Christ  when  he  was  on  earth.  This  looks  like  being 
wise  above  what  is  written,  or  like  the  old-fashioned  Cal- 
vinists  divulging  the  secret  will  of  God.  They  also  de- 
nominate their  mission  the  'MidnigJtt  Cry.''  This  I  most 
cordially  approve,  and  tliink  that  nothing  could  be  more 
appropriate  ;  for  certainly  such  obvious  errors  could  never 
proceed  from  the  kingdom  of  light.  The  apostle  repre- 
sents his  brethren  as  being  the  children  of  the  day,  not  of 
the  night  or  of  darkness.  Those  who  walk  in  darkness 
know  not  at  what  they  stumble.  Mr.  Miller  and  his  dis- 
ciples have  thrown  about  themselves  such  a  cloud  of 
absurdities  that  they  are  all  enveloped  in  midnight  dark- 
ness, and  thus  make  their  midnight  cry.  Essential  pillars 
may  fall  out  in  their  temple  and  they  know  it  not.  The 
day  of  grace  was  to  close  in  1840,  and  they  in  1842,  at 
the  very  close  of  the  year,  boast  of  their  converts,  spread 
abroad  their  canvas,  and  declare  their  chain  is  yet  perfect. 

'' Its  motive  to  action  is  wrong.  The  lever  used  and 
the  means  employed  is  terror  ;  the  principle  which  moves 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  387 

to  action  is  fear.  A  class  of  orators  are  got  up  who 
assume  uncommon  sanctity,  have  a  set  of  arguments 
founded  on  mathematical  calculation  upon  the  prophecies, 
which  common  sinners  are  not  capable  of  contradicting. 
Another  class  of  arguments  drawn  from  history,  which 
common  men  have  not  the  means  at  hand  to  contradict, 
are  presented ;  then  bringing  all  to  bear  on  the  one  great 
point  that  God  will  burn  up  the  the  world  next  year,  is  it 
strange  that  converts  are  multiplied?  They  serve  God 
for  fear  he  will  burn  them  up  if  they  do  not.  Take  away 
this  fear  and  they  will  hate  him  still.  Such  repentance 
is  very  liable  to  be  spurious.  Men  are  sick  and  afraid  to 
die,  and  they  repent ;  but  I  venture  to  say,  there  is  not  one 
instance  out  of  fifty  in  which  they  carry  out  the  principles 
and  sustain  the  character  of  Christians  when  restored  to 
health.  Tlie  love  of  Christ  should  constrain  men,  the 
goodness  of  God  should  lead  them  to  repentance,  and 
they  should  appreciate  all  his  claims  upon  their  service. 
They  should,  from  choice,  submit  to  his  government,  and 
love  him  because  he  first  loved  them.  The  Gospel  plan 
is  the  best.  Light  and  intelligence  are  the  great  influence 
to  be  applied  to  the  noble  intellect  of  man,  to  move  him 
to  virtuous  actions  and  reforms.  I  do  not  see  how  we 
can  say  it  matters  not  what  motives  we  present,  or  what 
means  we  adopt,  if  we  only  get  men  to  repent.  The 
Mormons  put  on  sanctity,  put  forth  efforts  and  make  con- 
verts by  wholesale  ;  but  this  is  no  proof  that  their  doctrine 
is  true,  or  that  the  cause  of  pure  religion  is  essentially 
benefited  by  their  revivals. 

"  2.  Its  spirit  is  wrong.  It  is  a  peculiar  trait  in  the 
Christian  religion  that  it  always  inspires  its  subjects  with 
humility,  kindness,  charity,  whilst  error  is  generally  at- 
tended wdtli  pride,  egotism  and  cruelty.  For  thirty  years 
past  I  have  seen  many  false  prophets  and  false  religions 


888  MEMOIR    OF 

rise  and  fall,  and  uniformly  a  vain,  vaunting,  self-righteous 
spirit  has  attended  them  all.  But  I  have  never  witnessed 
more  of  it  in  any  case  than  in  Mr.  Miller  and  his  follow- 
ers. Just  look  at  Mr.  M.'s  reply  to  Simon  Clough,  as 
published  in  the  Palladium.  The  egotism  and  insult 
seen  in  that  reply  can  scarcely  be  found  in  the  English 
language  from  the  pen  of  any  man  "who  makes  any  pre- 
tensions to  Christianity.  I  have  not  conversed  with  one 
of  them  who  could  hear  a  cogent  argument  against  their 
doctrine  without  exhibiting  pride  and  passion.  They 
cannot  bear  contradiction.  They  are  the  wise  virgins, 
and  the  rest  of  their  bretliren  are  the  slumbering  and 
foolish  who  will  be  shut  out  of  heaven  ;  they  often  refer 
to  a  passage  in  Daniel  which  says  '  the  wise  shall  un- 
derstand,' and  have  no  hesitation  in  considering  themselves 
•  the  icise  *  and  their  brethren  as  the  *  wicked/  who  shall 
not  understand.  They  know  it  all,  and  are  more  confi- 
dent than  seven  men  who  can  render  a  reason. 

**  3.  Their  heads  have  a  peculiar  shape.  There  are  men 
in  every  church,  and  have  been  in  every  age,  who  are 
constitutionally  inclined  to  fanaticism.  They  cannot  stand 
in  excitement;  they  cannot  hold  still.  There  are  two 
classes  of  them,  who  have  ever  been  an  annoyance  to  the 
church.  The  first  are  fond  of  the  marvellous,  arc  always 
driving  into  speculative  theories,  are  never  at  rest.  The 
last  or  new  theory  is  always  the  true  one,  and  they  soon 
ride  the  new  hobby  to  death,  and  then  seek  another.  It 
matters  not  how  absurd  the  doctrine.  It  may  contradict 
the  Bible,  it  may  rend  the  church  asunder,  it  may  pros- 
trate all  good  order  in  society,  it  must  be  forced  and 
driven  ahead,  and  have  its  day.  They  are  always  a  class 
of  Jehus  ready  for  a  new  scheme.  The  second  class  are 
those  of  weak  minds,  who  are  moved  by  passion.  Any 
excitement  takes  them  along  with  the  multitude.     Human 


UKV.    JOSEril    BADGER.  389 

nature  being  thus  constituted,  is  it  strange  that  converts 
are  made  ?  I  know  of  several  of  Mr.  Miller's  associates 
whose  lives  have  been  one  scene  of  changes.  Should 
1843  pass  away  and  the  world  not  be  destroyed,  they  will 
in  no  wise  be  discouraged.  Instead  of  repenting  of  their 
folly  and  mourning  over  the  havoc  and  disorder  they  have 
caused  in  the  church,  and  the  infidels  they  have  made, 
they  will  be  driving  ahead  in  some  new  scheme,  and  will 
wonder  that  the  poor  backslidden  church  and  the  poor 
blind  ministers  cannot  see  their  great  light,  and  will  not 
appreciate  their  astonishing  usefulness." 

In  other  articles  he  went  more  particularly  into  the 
discussion  of  the  question,  which,  as  the  entire  excite- 
ment has  passed  away,  could  not  be  of  much  interest 
to  readers  of  the  present  time.  These  articles  were 
rejected  by  the  partial  editor ;  only  the  first  one  was 
published,  which  was  done  by  order  of  the  committee. 
Had  the  three  been  printed,  we  are  confident  that  no 
editorials  could  have  eflfaced  or  marred  their  strono; 
impression  on  the  public  mind.  In  justice,  however, 
to  the  proper  mental  dignity  of  that  periodical,  I  should 
say  that  its  editorial  advocacy  of  Adventism  was  but 
temporarj^,  that  through  the  faithful  action  of  the  exec- 
utive committee,  the  Palladium  was  soon  restored  to  its 
original  aims.  Indeed  it  was  a  luckless  event  to  that 
paper,  its  finances,  and  its  power  over  the  community, 
that  Mr.  Badfi;er  left  it.  Had  his  wise  head  and  strono^ 
hand  guided  it  through  the  action  and  reaction  of 
e.^itement  until  1845,  the  effect  on  the  union,  concen- 
tration, and  sanity  of  the  religious  interest  would  have 
been  great.  It  is  folly  to  think  that  a  weak,  or  a  half- 
and-half  man,  whatever  may  be  the  sanctimony  of  his 


390  MEMOIR    OF 

carriage,  can  ever  fill  the  place  of  a  bold,  great  man. 
It  never  was  done,  and  never  can  be.  Mr.  Badger 
not  only  used  his  influence  at  an  early  day  to  prevent 
this  perversion  of  the  Palladium  from  its  former  high 
character,  but  when  it  occurred,  with  much  toil  and 
decision,  he,  with  a  few  others  of  similar  force,  labored 
until  it  was  effectually  emancipated.  The  real  value 
of  Joseph  Badger,  in  all  great  emergencies,  his  ability 
to  conduct  a  cause  to  honor  and  prosperity,  though 
seen  by  the  discriminating,  and  in  a  degree  acknowl- 
edged by  all,  is  not  even  yet  truthfully  appreciated. 
There  are  not  many  who  so  analyze  past  events  as  to 
see  the  full  worth  of  a  real  man  ;  some  flaming  hum- 
bug, that  dazzles  the  mass  with  words  and  extravagant 
zeal,  is  much  more  taking  and  congenial  to  the  general 
stupidity.  I  here  dismiss  this  part  of  his  public  life, 
with  the  remark,  that  some  who  read  his  articles  will 
probably  never  find  a  class  of  ultraists  gathered  about 
their  one  idea  without  first  looking  to  see  whether 
*'  their  heads  have  not  a  peculiar  shaped 

In  August,  1848,  Mr.  Badger  began  to  write  a 
series  of  articles  in  the  Christian  PaHadium,  under  the 
head  of  "  Sketches,"  which  were  extended  to  1848. 
In  these  his  various  labors  are  reflected  ;  also  his  views 
on  subjects  particular  and  general,  in  the  most  frank 
and  open  manner.  In  some  numbers  belonging  to 
1844,  in  answer  to  the  resolution  of  a  New  England 
Convention  which  declared  that  ministers  should  sus- 
tain a  lay  membership  with  some  local  church,  as 
essential  to  their  general  good  standing,  Mr.  Badger 
argued,  that  the  minister,  by  virtue  of  his  office  as 
public  teacher,  by  virtue  of  his  relation  as  pastor,  and 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  391 

bj  virtue  of  his  relation  to  all  the  churches,  cannot  be 
required  to  become  a  member  of  a  local  church,  and 
to  submit  to  its  loca4  authority  all  the  interests  of  his 
character  and  ministerial  position  in  the  world.  He 
pleaded  that  a  minister  of  the  gospel  is  not  created  offi- 
cially, or  ordained  by  a  single  church,  that  it  is  in  the 
united  wisdom  of  several  churches  and  ministers  that 
he  is  appointed  to  his  work,  and  that  it  requires  an 
authority  equally  general  to  try,  acquit,  or  exclude 
him,  as  the  evidence  may  demand.  He  conceded  not 
only  to  each  local  church,  but  to  any  individual  within 
or  without  its  pale,  whose  candor  should  entitle  him  to 
respect,  the  privilege  of  bringing  a  minister  to  account 
for  any  conduct  that  is  contrary  to  the  ethics  of  the 
Gospel  he  was  ordained  to  preach,  but  that  the  deter- 
mining tribunal  is  nothing  less  than  the  assembled 
virtue  and  intelligence  of  the  several  churches  and 
ministers  who  are  to  be,  as  nearly  as  the  limits  of  con- 
venience will  permit,  the  whole  body  to  which  he  be- 
longs. "  I  only  contend,"  said  he,  *'  for  what  the  old 
English  code  of  common  law  established  as  a  funda- 
mental principle,  that  ^  every  man  shall  be  tried  by 
his  peers.  '  "  In  this  protracted  discussion,  in  which 
his  own  powers  were  not  fully  awakened,  he  penned 
some  strong  and  cogent  paragraphs  ;  nor  did  the  two 
or  three  opponents  who  answered  him  as  he  advanced, 
at  all  embarrass  his  progress  or  disturb  the  composure 
of  his  argument  on  the  question.  The  whole  bearing 
of  his  views  as  expressed  on  this  and  kindred  topics, 
from  1819  to  1845,  goes  against  every  theory  which 
seeks  to  separate  ministers  from  churches,  or  churches 
from  ministers.  Their  united  action  was  his  idea  of 
church  government.  * 


392  MEMOIR    OF 

In  1845,  he  preaclied  mostly  within  the  region  of 
his  early  labors  in  that  country,  at  Lakevillc,  South 
Lima,  and  occasionally  at  Greece.  At  the  latter 
place,  he  was  ^called  to  dedicate  a  new  and  beautiful 
chapel,  January  3,  1845  ;  Rev.  F.  W.  Holland,  the 
Unitarian  minister  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  A.  Crocker 
and  L.  Allen  were  with  him.  He  spoke  from  Ps.  84 : 
1 :  "  How  amiable  are  thy  tabernacles,  0  Lord  of 
Hosts  !  "  Speaking  of  the  eflfect  of  this  sermon,  Mr. 
Holland  observes  :  — 

"  ]Nrany  venerable  faces  were  wet  with  tears,  and  the 
audience  listened  eagerly  for  an  hour.  This  excellent 
brother  has  labored  a  third  of  a  century  in  this  country, 
erected  the  first  church  west  of  the  Genesee  river,*  and 
prides  himself  on  bearing  his  years  so  well  as  not  to  feel 
a  pulpit  effort  of  several  hours.  I  was  much  pleased 
with  this  interview,  and  was  strongly  moved  to  accept  his 
invitation  to  add  a  codicil  to  his  last  words.  I  then  mado 
the  prayer  of  consecration,  and,  after  the  anthem,  a  Meth- 
odist minister  gave  the  benediction  from  a  full  and  gush- 
ing heart." 

In  union  with  ^Ir.  Crocker,  of  Parma,  and  Allen, 
of  Greece,  he  continued  his  labors  there  constantly  for 
one  month.  Mr.  Badger  gave  about  thirty  sermons. 
At  the  close  of  his  eleventh  discourse,  thirty-three 
persons  obey^ed  his  invitation  to  take. a  decided  stand 
for  God  and  his  service,  three-fourths  of  whom  were 
men,  and  among  them  persons  of  talent,  wealth,  and 
influence  in  the  community.  "  The  good  work,"  says 
Mr.   B.,  "  proceeded   gradually   through  the   month, 

*  The  Christian  Church  at  Royalton,  N.  Y.,  M-as  the  first  erected 
in  the  State  west  of  the  Genesee  river. 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  393 

without  fanaticism,  extravagance,  or  disorder."  Among 
those  who  were  reached  bj  redeeming  influence  was  a 
German,  who  had  been  with  Napoleon  in  manj  of  his 
wars,  had  crossed  the  bridge  of  Lodi  by  his  side,  and 
been  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Agram ;  also  another  of 
seventy-five  years,  who  had  stood  by  Commodore 
Perry  in  the  battle  on  Lake  Erie.  Two-thirds  of  the 
building  committee,  who  were  men  of  the  world,  were 
also  numbered  with  the  converts  ;  and  of  his  refresh- 
ing seasons  with  the  people  of  Greece,  at  baptisms, 
communions,  and  other  times,  he  speaks  in  words  of 
pleasure.  But  he  closed  his  labors  with  them  near 
the  last  of  1845  ;  likewise  the  same  with  the  church 
at  Lakeville,  which  he  had  planted  twenty-seven  years 
before.  He  also  visited  Canada  in  the  month  of  Au- 
gust, which  he  said  was  invigorating  both  to  his  bodily 
and  spiritual  health.  "■  There  are,"  said  he,  "  in  Can- 
ada, some  of  the  most  pious  spirits  and  some  of  the 
most  valiant  souls  that  ever  adorned  the  church  of 
God.  They  live  to  do  good,  and  love  the  Saviour's 
cause  above  all  things."  He  is  now  free  from  all  pas- 
toral confinement,  and  designs  to  visit  the  sea-shore 
of  New  England  as  soon  as  proper  opportunity  shall 
open,  that  he  may  there  regain  his  usual  health. 

We  are  now  at  a  crisis  of  his  life  which  makes  us 
sad  as  we  cast  our  e;yes  upon  it.  Thus  far,  through  his 
long  career,  we  have  traced  the  energetic  man,  the 
man  of  full  and  overflowing  resources  of  physical  power. 
But  here  the  scene  must  change,  not  gradually  as  age 
and  as  even  disease  commonly  execute  their  mutations 
on  human  frailty,  but  suddenly  as  from  the  lightning's 
stroke,  the  oaken  form  receives  assault.  July  2, 1845, 
18* 


394  MEMOIR    OF 

while  employed  for  an  hour  in  assisting  his  hands  at 
work,  and  using  an  uncommon  amount  of  vigor,  he 
paused  a  moment  to  rest,  when  he  received  a  para- 
lytic shock  on  his  left  side,  which  never  after  allowed 
him  the  enjoyment  of  his  former  health.  His  ances- 
tors on  his  mother's  side  were  subject  to  this  fatal 
affliction  ;  and  whatever  may  be  justly  said  in  favor  of 
active  habits  and  frugal  diet  as  preventives  of  a  disas- 
ter so  terrible,  it  is  certain  in  this  case  that  the  fact 
has  a  close  relation  to  laws  of  hereditary  descent. 
Alluding  to  this  event,  Mr.  Badger  observes :  — 

"  I  have  felt,  during  this  aniiction,  the  most  perfect 
rcsigniition  to  the  will  of  God.  I  have  stood  upon  the 
walls  of  Zion  over  thirty  years  ;  I  am  weary  in  the  work, 
but  not  of  it.  Many  of  my  early  associates  have  left 
their  stations  before  me.  I  have  baptized  about  forty 
who  liavc  become  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  several  of 
whom  have  entered  upon  their  rest.  I  now  stand  upon 
the  isthmus  between  two  worlds,  "ready  to  depart  and  be 
with  Christ,  or  still  to  toil  on  amidst  the  ills  of  life  as  the 
great  Master  may  direct.  While  I  do  live,  I  am  deter- 
mined to  stand  firm  against  what  I  know  to  be-  the  delu- 
sions of  the  present  age,  which  are  spreading  death  and 
devastation  among  the  flock  of  Christ,  and  to  hold  fast 
that  system  of  revealed  truth  on  which  the  hopes  of  this 
lost  world  must  rest  for  salvation.  I  do  as  I  think  all 
ministers  should  in  such  an  age  of  speculation  in  theol- 
ogy as  the  present ;  place  my  confidence  in,  and  conse- 
crate my  energies  to,  the  promotion  of  the  one  blessed 
Gospel,  which  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation,  and 
declare,  to  a  divided  and  excited  public,  'I  am  deter- 
mined to  know  nothing  among  you  save  Jesus  Christ  and 
him  crucified.' " 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  395 

He  continues :  — 

"  Again,  I  cannot  go  with  the  tirade  of  persecution 
which  some  of  the  sects  are  getting  up  against  the  Cath- 
olics. Let  us  hold  up  truth,  and  scatter  light  to  refute 
error.  If  we  take  the  sword,  we  shall  perish  of  the  sword. 
God  has  shaken  every  other  sect  to  its  very  centre,  and 
the  work  has  just  commenced  among  them.  God  will, 
in  due  time,  effect  his  own  purposes.  In  Germany,  and 
in  this  country,  the  work  of  dissent  and  reform  has  com- 
menced. At  Rome,  their  main  temple  begins  to  crum- 
ble, and  soon  a  howling  will  be  heard  among  the  mer- 
chants of  Babylon.  Vengeance  is  mine,  I  will  repay, 
saith  the  Lord.  Let  Christians  in  every  case  be  careful 
how  they  grasp  the  sword  of  vengeance." 

"  This  whole  State  is  missionary  ground ;  and  there  is 
no  i)art  of  the  world  where  funds  can  be  expended  and 
labors  put  forth  to  greater  advantages  than  among  our- 
selves. As  soon  as  the  citadel  is  manned  and  ammuni 
tioned,  I  say  go  forth  to  conquest,  and  the  Great  AVest  is 
our  next  field.  If  I  were  in  health,  I  would  now  sooner 
risk  a  support  among  the  new  settlers  at  the  west,  than 
among  three-fourths  of  the  old  churches  in  this  State. 
Let  us  all  put  shoulder  to  the  wheel,  and  strengthen  the 
things  that  remain  which  are  ready  to  die ;  and  extend 
our  efforts  to  all  the  world  as  soon  as  possible." 

Though  half  of  hiin  was  paralyzed  July  2d,  these, 
and  very  many  other  paragraphs  and  sermons  that 
might  be  quoted,  indicate  that  the  remaining  half  was 
adequate  to  all  practical  needs.  December  8th,  he 
started  for  Plain ville,  Onondaga  County,  N.  Y.,  to 
visit  the  strong  and  prosperous  congregation  of  Hev. 
E.  J.  Reynolds,   to  whom  he   preached  twenty-two 


396  MEMOIR    OF 

sermons.  Mr.  Badger,  after  complimentarj  reuiarks  on 
the  success  of  Mr.  R.,  said,  "  Many  churches  suffer 
great  loss  by  frequent  changes  in  the  ministry,  and 
thereby  keep  themselves  in  a  fluctuating  state.  When 
a  minister  is  known,  he  has  acquired  an  amount  of  in- 
fluence which  the  church  should  regard  as  so  much 
capital ;  this  it  may  take  another  a  long  time  to  gain. 
A  church  should  guard  against  the  excitement  Avhich  a 
change  in  the  ministry  always  occasions,  the  conse- 
quences of  which  are  frequently  fatal." 

From  this  i:)lace  he  started  for  New  England ; 
visited  Boston  and  New  Bedford,  and  by  invitation  of 
the  committee  of  Franklin-street  church.  Fall  River, 
Mass.,  he  went  to  occupy  the  pulpit  of  that  society. 
His  first  letters  from  this  place  describe,  with  compre- 
hensive exactness,  the  condition  of  society,  the  advan- 
tages and  improvements  of  the  places  he  had  visited  in 
New  England.  He  saw  a  new  town  as  he  saw  a  ncAV 
man,  comprehensively,  and  in  one  paragraph  would 
group  together  the  main  features  in  its  temporal  pros- 
perity and  in  its  spiritual  state.  Turning  his  eye  back 
upon  the  field  he  had  left,  he  said :  — 

"  In  the  State  of  New  York  I  have  labored  in  the  min- 
istry near  thirty  years.  I  have  in  that  great  and  inter- 
esting field  of  labor  sacrificed  the  best  part  of  my  frail 
life.  I  have  there  devoted  my  strength  in  youth  and 
middle  age,  have  there  seen  great  displays  of  God's  glory 
in  the  conversion  of  sinners  and  in  the  planting  and  growth 
of  many  of  the  tender  branches  of  Zion.  But  I  have 
failed  in  the  work — failed  amidst  my  labors,  with  the 
best  of  prospects  before  me,  when  it  seemed  that  the 
infant  churclies  most  needed  my  counsel  and  assistance. 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  397 

But  I  can  do  no  more  for  them  ;  I  cannot  ftice  the  storms, 
endure  the  fatigues,  and  meet  the  opponents  with  that 
vigor  and  success  I  did  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago.  No; 
let  me  retire  in  peace,  with  the  consolation  that  I  have 
fought  a  good  fight,  and  that  my  labors  have  not  been  in 
vain  in  the  establishment  of  Christianity  in  the  State  of 
New  York.  Young  men  who  will  come  after  us  in  the 
ministry,  and  enter  into  our  labors,  can  never  appreciate 
tlie  toils  and  sufferings  pioneers  in  this  cause  were  obliged 
to  endure,  to  raise  and  sustain  the  standard  of  Ciiristian 
liberty  in  that  State." 

After  the  first  six.  weeks  of  his  stay  in  Fall  River, 
not  finding  that  strength  and  rally  of  bodily  faculty 
lie  had  hoped  from  the  sea-breeze,  he  thought  of  going 
to  Virginia,  or  to  some  more  genial  climate  of  the 
South.  But  he  remained  a  while  longer ;  and,  real- 
izing a  moderate  improvement,  he  continued  his  labors 
in  that  town,  preaching  three  sermons  every  Sabbath, 
attending  three  social  meetings  through  the  week, 
visiting  the  sick,  calling  on  his  parishioners,  reading 
and  writing  as  much  as  the  accustomed  duties  of 
clergymen  require. 

His  first  sermon,  delivered  January  4,  1846,  was 
founded  on  1st  Cor.  2  :  2  :  "  For  I  determined  to  know 
nothing  among  you  save  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  cruci- 
fied,"—  a  text  which  was  the  key-note  of  his  whole 
theologic  harmony.  In  the  plot  of  this  sermon  there 
are  three  simple  divisions  :  1.  Why  did  St.  Paul  bring 
his  labors  and  efforts  to  bear  on  this  one  point  ?  Why 
would  he  know  nothing  else  ?  2.  What  is  it  to  know 
Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified  ?  3.  The  danger  of 
mixing  other  things  with  the  Gospel,  thereby  dividing 


398  MEMOIR    OF 

and  polluting  the  minds  of  the  hearers.  The  reasons 
assigned  under  the  first  division  are  :  1.  Christ  is  the 
only  hope  of  a  lost  world,  the  only  ^medium  by  which 
Tve  can  approach  God.  2.  He  -wished  that  his  hearers 
should  be  rightly  taught,  that  their  faith  might  stand 
in  the  power  of  God,  not  in  the  wisdom  of  men.  "  To 
know  Jesus  Christ,"  he  said,  *'  is  to  understand  his 
history,  to  know  his  doctrine,  to  have  him  in  our  ex- 
perience, to  knoAv  the  power  of  his  resurrection,  which 
is  eternal  life."  It  is,  however,  impossible  to  form  any 
adequate  idea  of  a  sermon  of  his  from  a  plot,  as  he  was 
so  richly  extemporaneous,  and  never  committed  to 
paper  anything  more  than  the  guiding  points  of  his 
discourse  ;  the  minutioe  were  wholly  in  his  mind.  If 
the  several  hundred  plots  of  sermons  found  amongst  his 
papers  were  presented  to  the  world,  it  would  scon  ap- 
pear that  only  those  who  have  heard  him  in  the  days 
of  his  strength  could  form  any  just  idea  of  the  dis- 
courses he  gave,  for  his  spoken  language  was  infinitely 
more  eloquent  and  free  than  his  written,  and  there  was 
so  much  that  made  up  the  total  interest  in  his  manner, 
voice,  and  expression,  that  cannot,  by  any  known  skill, 
be  transferred  to  paper.  Like  the  speaking  of  Whit- 
field and  Henry  Clay,  the  occasion  only  was  the  true 
witness  of  his  power.  The  written  report,  though  it 
reads  well,  carries  but  little  of  the  pecuhar  life-impress, 
the  fine  pathos,  the  delicate  humor,  the  ready  turn  of 
thought,  the  quick  imagination,  and  the  falling  tear  of 
the  listening  auditor.  It  is  only  by  hearing,  we  say, 
that  Joseph  Badger's  pulpit  abiUties  can  be  judged. 

Casting  his  eye  over  New  England  society,  he  pleaded 
the  necessity  of  broader  sympathy  and  union,  of  greater 


REV.    JOSEril    BADGER.  399 

CDiifidcncc  between  ministers  and  people,  and  for  a 
giving  up  of  local  prejudices  bet^Yeen  the  east  and  the 
west,  as  the  cause  of  Christ  is  a  unit  over  all  the  world. 
He  extols  the  spirit  and  labors  of  Benjamin  Taylor  in 
the  Bethel  cause,  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  which  served 
to  send  over  the  wide  seas  the  pure  principles  of  un- 
scctarian  religion ;  the  same  praise  Avas  bestowed  on 
the  efforts  of  Moses  IIow,  of  jS'ew  Bedford,  whose 
labors  for  years  in  the  seaman's  cause,  have  been 
catholic  in  nature  and  efficient  in  result.  In  glancing 
at  the  generally  low  state  of  religious  interest,  whoso 
causes  he  thought  lay  deeper  than  the  lack  of  human 
science,  he  said  :  — 

'*  These  times  arc  doubtless  suffered  to  come  upon  the 
earth,  to  sift  tlie  church,  to  purge  it  from  its  dross,  to  try 
and  purify  the  pcoi)le  of  God  and  to  prepare  them  for  a 
greater  work  and  a  holier  state.  Oh,  merciful  God ! 
grant  this  may  be  the  result  of  all  the  conflicts  which  now 
surround  the  dear  people,  who  are  pressed  down,  grieved, 
discouraged  and  tempted.  Oh !  lot  them  once  more  arise 
in  their  strengtli,  put  on  their  beautiful  garments,  exert 
their  influence  and  sec  thy  glory  as  they  have  in  years 
that  are  past." 

"  The  anxiety  I  feel  for  the  Christian  cause  at  the 
present  crisis  exceeds  anything  I  have  felt  in  years  past ; 
and  in  my  feeble  state  it  presses  heavily  upon  my  spirit 
night  and  day.  I  know  our  doctrine,  our  order  and  our 
spirit  are  right ;  I  know  our  cause  is  good,  and  many  have 
sacrificed  their  precious  lives  and  labored  valiantly  to 
sustain  and  establish  it.  It  must  come  up  again.  It  must 
and  will  yet  live  ;  it  must  be  the  general  centre  to  which 
all   sects   must    approach,    when   their    revolutions   and 


400  MEMOIR    OF 

reforms  bring  them  fiillj  into  the  liberty  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ.  Oh,  brethren,  stand  fast  in  the  liberty  of  the  Gos- 
pel, hold  fast  whereunto  you  have  attained,  endure  to  the 
end,  and  salvation  is  sure.  I  may  not  live  to  see  better 
days  upon  the  earth  ;  but  they  will  come.  '  Why  art  thou 
cast  down,  Oh  my  soul !  hope  thou  in  God,  for  I  shall 
yet  praise  him.'  The  storms  will  blow  over,  the 
darkness  will  pass  away,  and  God's  true  people  will  come 
forth  like  gold  seven  times  tried  in  the  fire.  Courage, 
courage,  my  brethren.  Ivemember  the  fate  of  the  fear- 
ful and  unbelieving." 

"  I  suppose  it  is  the  design  of  the  great  Founder  of  re- 
ligion, that  all  his  followers  should  be  placed  in  a  state  of 
trial  here,  and  that  Christianity  should  grapple  with  the. 
powers  of  darkness,  and  overcome  all  the  influences  which 
can  be  raised  against  it.  We  never  know  our  own  strength, 
or  tlie  strength  of  other  Christians,  until  we  are  placed  in  a 
state  of  trial  and  afHiction  ;  and  the  strength  and  virtue  of 
Christ's  religion  are  never  fully  developed  until  tested  by 
the  sword  and  the  f\igot.  But  in  the  darkest  time  its  holy 
light  shines,  and  its  virtue  is  felt  and  knowm." 

During  his  stay  in  Fall  River,  184G  and  1847,  he 
frequently  wrote  for  the  public  papers,  in  which  he 
took  some  very  bold  and  independent  positions.  He 
closely  criticised  and  answered  an  anonymous  WTiter, 
who,  with  much  ability  and  severity,  introduced  a  ser- 
mon on  the  text,  "  My  people  perish  for  lack  of 
knowledge ; "  he  also  conducted  a  somewhat  lengthy 
controversy  with  an  able  anonymous  writer,  who  styled 
himself  Azro.  In  all  these  communications,  the  ideas 
which  steadily  hold  the  ascendant  are  these :  that  all 
the  moral  evils  of  society  are  anticipated  by  the  Gos- 
pel ;  that  its  mission  being  the  redemption  of  a  fallen 


KEV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  401 

world,  it  is  capable  of  reaching  the  entire  depth  of 
moral  disease  in  every  phase  it  can  assume  ;  that  the 
church  is  the  only  moral  association  Jesus  ever  sanc- 
tioned ;  that  it  is  through  the  power  which  inherently 
lives  in  Christianity,  that  the  entire  brood  of  social 
evils  are  to  be  vanquished  —  slavery,  war,  intemper- 
ance, and  every  sin  known  to  human  history.  He 
pleaded  that  no  one  virtue  should  be  singled  out  and 
made  the  whole  of  Christianity ;  that  no  one  vice  is 
the  whole  tree  of  evil ;  and  that  the  only  method  by 
which  human  society  can  be  made  to  yield  good  fruits 
is  by  making  the  tree  good,  by  reform  in  its  heart  and 
life  ;  that  the  coercion  of  law  and  the  flaming  zeal  of 
partisans  cannot  reform  the  world  efficiently.  These 
are  substantially  his  positions.  No  man,  we  believe, 
ever  had  a  higher  faith  in  the  mission  of  Christ  and 
the  Gospel ;  and  none  ever  confided  more  strongly  than 
he  in  the  certainty  of  their  final  victories.  But  the 
world  needs,  and  will  have,  a  complexity  of  agencies 
in  the  work  of  its  deliverance;  discussion,  debate, 
societies,  radicals,  conservatives,  men  of  one  idea  and 
men  of  a  thousand,  all  are  equally  necessary,  as  in 
nature  we  get  the  soft,  green  grass  and  the  thorny 
hedge,  the  south  gale  and  the  lightning's  dart.  In 
nature,  we  judge  that  no  angelic  reformer,  had  he 
turned  naturalist  prior  to  the  human  epoch,  could  have 
so  induced  the  coming  of  the  postponed  era  of  land 
animals  as  to  have  blended  it  with  that  of  the  coralline 
limestone  ;  nor  can  any  ado  of  church  or  state  pile  up 
topmost  strata  in  the  moral  world  any  faster  than  is 
granted  by  the  eternal  law  that  underhes  all  the  eras 
of  nature  and  spirit.     But  in  doing  the  work  of  the 


402  MEMOIR    OF 

world's  salvation,  all  agencies  can  be  overruled  ;  John, 
with  his  loving  divinity  ;  Peter,  with  his  sword  ;  battles 
and  prayers,  all  can  be  woven  into  service. 

At  Fall  River,  though  the  ability  of  his  labors  was 
greatly  impaired  by  bad  health,  he  made  a  strong  im- 
pression, created  many  friends,  and  has  ever  been 
remembered  there  with  friendly  interest.  His  sermon 
on  temperance  was  highly  spoken  of  by  the  papers  of 
that  place  ;  his  bold  vindication  of  the  rights  of  the 
over-taxed  energies  of  the  female  laborer  at  the  cotton 
mills,  in  reply  to  the  lecture  of  an  influential  clergy- 
man who  maintained  that  the  rules  and  labors  of  the 
factories  are  favorable  to  longevity,  was  characteristic 
of  the  man,  and  won  the  respectfid  attention  of  many 
who  had  known  nothing  of  the  stranger  who  was 
sojourning  among  them.  He  continued  his  labors  in 
Fall  River  into  the  month  of  July,  1846,  when,  with 
health  somewhat  improved,  he  returned  to  his  family 
at  Honeoye.  In  glancing  over  the  plots  of  sermons 
delivered  in  that  place  one  is  struck  with  their  simple 
brevity  and  clear  pointcdness.  For  instance  :  all  that 
appears  under  the  text,  Acts  28  :  26  :  "  Almost  thou 
persuadest  me  to  be  a  Christian,"  arc  these  words  :  — 
"  1.  The  Christian  name.  2.  The  Christian  doctrine. 
3.  The  Christian  spirit.  4.  The  Christian  character." 
His  farewell  sermon  was  built  on  John  14  :  18 :  ''  I 
will  not  leave  you  comfortless." 

In  the  spring  of  1847,  he  visited  the  pleasant  village 
of  Conneaut,  Ohio,  which  commands  a  fine  prospect 
of  land  and  lake,  and  which  afforded  him  at  the  same 
time  a  field  of  usefulness  and  the  medical  services  of 
Doctors  Fifield  and  Sandborn.     By  the  request  of  Mr. 


KEV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  403 

Fuller,  then  a  student  at  the  Meadville  Theological 
School,  the  success  of  whose  labors  at  Spring,  Pa., 
seemed  to  demand  his  ordination  to  the  Christian  min- 
istry, Mr.  Badger  left  home  April  2d,  to  preach  the 
sermon  on  that  occasion.  Proceeding  by  way  of  Staf- 
ford, Laona,  and  Fairvdew,  he  arrived  on  the  9th  ;  and 
on  the  10th  gave  a  very  impressive  and  interesting 
discourse,  which  was  happily  suited  to  the  occasion. 
In  company  with  Elder  J.  E.  Church  he  proceeded  to 
Conneaut,  where  he  gave  three  sermons  to  large  assem- 
blies —  a  place  he  had  not  before  visited  in  twenty 
years.  There  he  stood  by  the  graves  of  Blodget  and 
Spaulding,  early  associates,  called  away  in  the  midst 
of  their  labors.  "  How  dear  their  memory,  and  how 
venerable  their  names  I  how  soon  I  shall  join  them  in 
the  heavenly  world  I  Oh,  Lord  !  prepare  me  for  the 
holy  society  above." 

The  church,  Avhich  had  been  in  a  low  and  tried  state 
for  a  long  time,  began  to  rally  again  with  brighter 
hopes  of  success  and  prosperity.  They  came  with  new 
interest  to  the  communion  —  to  the  social  meeting  — 
to  the  Sabbath  services.  Attention  began  to  increase, 
and  as  early  as  June  26,  Mr.  Badger  could  say  :  — 

"  We  have  received  nine,  I  believe  good  and  spiritual 
members  into  tJie  church.  How  comforting  it  is  to  a 
church  who  have  long  sat  in  sadness  by  the  side  of  the 
river  of  Babylon,  again  to  see  the  walls  and  gates  of  Jeru- 
salem restored,  and  Zion's  altars  again  smoking  with  the 
offering  of  God.  I  intend  to  spend  next  month  at  home, 
and  the  first  of  August  to  resume  my  labor  here  again,  if 
the  Lord  will.     It  is  my  meat  and  my  drink  to  do  the  will 


404  MEMOIR    OF 

of  my  Father  who  is  in  heaven.  I  view  my  great  home 
near,  and  am  anxious  to  be  ready.  Our  chapel  to-day 
was  crowded  with  hearers,  who  seemed  to  feel  deeply  the 
importance  of  religion,  wljich  alone  can  bring  salvation 
to  tlie  soul.  In  the  afternoon  I  met  a  multitude  of  solemn 
hearers,  on  the  pleasant  bank  of  the  Conneaut,  where, 
after  a  short  address,  I  led  four  happy  converts  down  to 
the  watery  grave,  who  all  came  forth  with  joy  and  strength, 
to  witness  a  good  profession  and  to  shine  as  lights  in  the 
world.  May  God  str^'ngthcn  their  young  hearts  to  endure 
to  the  end,  that  tliey  may  be  saved.     I  love  the  people." 

The  month  of  July,  which  he  spent  at  home,  he 
improved  in  attending  some  meetings  with  his  old  con- 
gregations. July  4,  he  spoke  over  an  hour  to  his 
people  at  Lakeville,  who  assembled  eii  masse.  The 
18th,  with  Rev.  Asa  Chapin,  he  attended  the  ordina- 
tion of  Sylvester  Morris,  at  Springwatcr  ;  in  speaking 
of  the  sermon  given  by  his  colleague,  he  said  :  —  "  One 
such  sermon  which  indicates  God  and  his  authority, 
and  teaches  men  to  rely  on  his  strong  arm,  is  worth  all 
the  flowers  of  oratory  and  empty  show  which  human  art 
and  skill  can  produce."  He  resumed  his  labors  at 
Conneaut  in  August,  continued  them  till  March,  1848. 
Whilst  there  he  received  about  twenty  additional  mem- 
bers, baptized  twelve,  among  whom  was  a  young  Uni- 
tarian clergyman,  then  about  to  graduate  from  the 
Meadville  Theological  School.  Though  broken  in  health 
and  in  spirits,  though  visited  by  dark  and  lonely  hours, 
he  exhibited  the  remains  of  a  gigantic  force,  and  over 
the  social  circle  he  still  could  throAv  the  bright  sunlight 
of  his  own  spirit,  which,  unlike  his  bodily  constitution, 
refused  to  grow  old.    In  frequent  social  parties  he  was 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  405 

kindly  greeted  and  cheered  during  the  winter  of  his 
stay  in  Conneaut ;  and  though  the  excitement  of  com- 
pany often  reacted  upon  him  injuriously,  his  letters 
addressed  to  his  family  eulogize  the  cordiality  and  kind- 
ness of  the  people.  As  spring  drew  near,  he  felt  that 
his  labors  should  close  ;  and  early  in  March  he  returned 
home  with  the  feeling  that  his  long  career  in  the  minis- 
try was  closed.  And  so  it  was.  On  three  or  four 
occasions  he  again  addressed  the  people,  once  at  Hen- 
rietta, on  a  funeral  occasion,  once  at  Naples,  and  once 
at  Honeoye  Falls.  Notice  had  been  given  at  the  last 
place,  that  Mr.  Badger  would  meet  all  his  friends,  who 
might  desire  to  hear  him  once  more  on  earth.  He 
spoke  to  them  for  the  last  time.  Many  came  to  hear. 
Among  the  remarks  made  concerning  this  general  ad- 
dress, the  whole  of  which  was  extemporaneous,  was  this ; 
that  the  greatest  amount  of  meaning  was  thrown  into 
the  most  concise  form  that  language  Avould  permit.  But 
his  once  eloquent  speech  had  now  become  slow  and 
thick.  It  no  longer  floiued.  Thirty-six  years  of  a 
most  active,  arduous,  and  often  self-sacrificing  ministry, 
thus  ended  in  retirement,  when  nothing  in  his'  years 
gave  signs  of  life's  abating  energy. 


406  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  XX. 

EETIRED  LIFE READIXG TRAVELS DEPARTURE 

1848    TO    1852. 

The  mind  of  Mr.  Badger  was  in  reality  less  impaired 
than  his  ability  to  manifest  it.  In  company,  perhaps 
most  persons  judge  of  mind  almost  wholly  from  its 
vocal  manifestations.  Hence  a  diversity  of  opinion 
and  report  that  went  abroad  concerning  his  imbecihty. 
My  last  interviews  with  him  were  in  the  winter  and 
summer  of  1850.  I  was  joyfully  surprised  to  perceive 
the  error  of  the  report  that  had  gone  abroad  concern- 
ing his  mental  weakness.  Honestly,  there  was  then 
more  in  his  brain  than  ever  existed  in  the  minds  of 
those  who  reported  him  as  being  only  a  spectacle  of 
sadness.  Though  his  communication  was  slow  and  im- 
paired, his  clear  gray  eye  shone  with  all  the  clearness 
and  thoughtful  penetration  that  it  ever  had  done.  I 
never  enjoyed  with  him  more  interesting  visits.  He 
referred  to  past  events  with  perfect  accuracy  of 
memory,  related  many  incidents  of  his  travels,  spoke 
of  argumentative  discussions  and  of  positions  he  had 
taken,  passed  judgments  on  men  and  things,  which  at 
no  period  of  his  life  could  have  been  more  mature. 

But  ordinarily,  his  self-control,  his  power  to  be  un- 
aifected  by  disturbing  causes,  was  said  to  have  been 
much  diminished ;  and  the  clearness  and  vigor  of  his 
mind  were  also  said  to  have  varied  essentially  at  differ- 
ent intervals.     Every  day,  he  read,  or  heard  some 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  407 

member  of  his  family  read  to  him,  the  news  of  the 
time.  He  kept  a  clear  knowledge  of  the  world's  great 
movements  ;  and  above  all,  he  relished  the  sacred  news 
that  apprised  him  of  the  welfare  of  Zion.  All  his 
letters  of  1849  and  '50  have  the  same  conciseness  and 
clearness  of  expression  that  always  distinguished  his 
letter-writing.  In  the  winter  of  1850  I  called  on  him  ; 
it  was  evening,  about  8  o'clock ;  found  him  wearing  a 
most  calm  and  meditative  expression.  There  was  no 
vivacity  to  cheer  a  visitor ;  but  immediately  one  felt 
the  calm  and  tranquillizing  influence  of  his  presence. 
Iir  glancing  over  his  form  and  features,  it  was  readily- 
apparent  that  his  whole  character''  was  there,  not  in 
activity  but  in  repose. 

If  I  might  be  permitted  the  liberty  of  speaking 
further  in  the  first  person,  and  of  drawing  from  per- 
sonal reminiscence,  I  would  state  some  remarks  he  then 
made.  We  conversed  sometimes  for  hours.  I  chanced 
to  have  with  me  Emerson's  newly  issued  volume,  enti- 
tled Representative  Men.  The  second  day  of  my 
sojourn  with  him,  he  requested  me  to  read  jrom  it. 
He  called  for  the  characters  presented ;  after  naming 
these,  he  said:  "  First  read  to  me  of  Napoleon  ;  after 
that,  of  Swedenborg."  I  did  so.  And  invariably,  as 
the  reading  passed  over  those  striking  and  ingenious 
passages  for  which  Mr.  E.  is  so  greatly  distinguished, 
his  eye  and  countenance  hghted  up  with  a  smile  of 
delight ;  the  thoughts  of  the  writer  passed  into  his 
mind  as  easily  as  the  rays  of  morning  enter  the  eyes 
of  living  creatures.  I  only  read  from  these  two  char- 
acters, and  in  the  pages  presented  him  he  evinced  the 
truest  deUght.  His  power  to  appreciate  a  thinker  even 
then  cost  him  no  effort. 


408  MEMOIR    OF 

He  also  alluded  to  tlic  near  approach  of  death.  He 
said  he  entertained  peculiar  views  on  that  subject. 
He  would  cheerfully  die  in  a  foreign  land,  or  far  away 
away  from  home.  "  I  prefer,"  said  he,  "  that  my 
wife,  children,  and  near  friends,  would  not  sec  me  as  a 
corpse.  It  would  suit  me,  if  Providence  should  so 
order,  to  bid  my  family  a  cheerful  good-by  some 
pleasant  day,  and  in  some  distant  part  meet  the 
summons  of  my  God.  I  would  wish  that  all  their 
remembrances  of  mc  might  be  associated  with  cheerful- 
ness and  life,  and  that  not  a  single  recollection  should 
connect  me  with  death."  These  utterances,  of  course, 
were  only  a  free  statement  of  feeling,  but  they  im- 
pressed me  much,  and  were  indeed  characteristic  of 
the  man.     He  was  a  lover  of  life  and  of  the  life-like. 

In  Juno,  1850,  the  annual  session  of  the  New  York 
Central  Christian  Conference  was  holden  at  his  resi- 
dence. Not  wishing  to  partake  of  the  excitement 
common  to  large  assemblies,  and  particularly  anxious 
to  avoid  the  excitement  which  contact  with  so  many 
old  acquaintances  and  friends  would  necessarily  create, 
he  planned  a  journey  to  Manchester  and  Gilmanton, 
New  Hampshire.  I  saw  him  an  evening  and  morning 
before  he  left.  He  walked  with  me  to  the  beautiful 
grove  where  the  Sabbath  meeting  was  to  be  held ;  on 
the  way,  he  observed,  "  Whenever  I  went  away  to 
preach  a  dedication  sermon,  or  to  hold  a  meeting  in  a 
new  grove,  I  always  wanted  to  go  upon  the  ground 
and  look  at  the  scene  a  day  beforehand."  He  had  a 
fine  visit  with  relatives  among  his  native  hills  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  returned  in  two  or  three  weeks. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  409 

In  the  spring  of  1851,  when  his  power  of  speech 
was  greatlj  enfeebled,  so  much  so  that  he  could  not 
speak  intelligibly  to  strangers,  he  expressed  a  strong 
desire  to  go  about  and  visit  once  more  the  churches  he 
had  formed,  and  see  all  his  brethren  in  the  ministry. 
Mrs.  Badger  made  arrangements  to  accompany  him  to 
Parma,  where  the  New  York  Western  Christian  Con- 
ference was  held  June  23,  1851.  She  had  accom- 
panied him  on  two  other  journeys  of  a  similar  nature, 
and  served  him  as  interpreter,  she  being  able  to  under- 
stand him  when  others  could  not.  These  trips  he 
enjoyed  very  much ;  at  Parma,  he  sat  in  meeting  all 
day  Saturday,  Sunday  and  Monday ;  and,  using  the 
language  of  Mrs.  B.,  "he  seemed  to  have  the  most 
profound  enjoyment."  Taking  the  precaution  to  rest 
on  Tuesday,  Mrs.  B.,  in  their  private  conveyance, 
started  with  him  on  Wednesday  for  Gaines,  a  distance 
of  thirty  miles,  where' they  remained  for  the  night ;  on 
Thursday  morning  they  journeyed  but  three  miles,  to 
the  town  of  Barry,  where  they  tarried  but  a  night ;  on 
Friday  he  arose  early,  in  his  usual  health ;  the  sun 
poured  down  his  burning  rays  in  great  power.  He 
became  anxious  and  determined  to  return  home. 
Said  Mrs.  B. : 

"  Accordingly,  I  started  with  him  as  soon  as  I  could 
prepare ;  we  had  rode  but  about  one  mile  when  the  last 
and  final  shock  came  over  him,  which  deprived  him  for  the 
time  of  every  sense  but  that  of  intense  suffering.  I  imme- 
diately inquired  for  the  nearest  physician,  and  found  that 
we  were  in  the  vicinity  of  Dr.  Eaton,  an  old  friend, 
and  one  who  had  prescribed  for  him  before.  He  was 
speechlegs,  and  nearly  senseless  when  I  arrived  with  him 
18 


410  MEMOIR      OF 

at  the  doctor's.  The  doctor  immediately  took  him  in,  and 
by  thorough  rubbing,  and  bathing,  and  by  administering 
hot  medicines,  succeeded  in  restoring  him  to  a  state  of 
consciousness.  From  this  place  he  was  conveyed  to  my 
brother's  house  at  Barry,  where  he  was  regularly  attended 
by  Dr.  E.  twice  a  day  for  one  week,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  was  able  to  be  put  into  his  carriage  and  to  be 
conveyed  home,  taking  two  days  for  fifty  miles,  which  are 
ten  miles  less  than  he  was  accustomed  to  ride  when  he  was 
well,  and  called  himself  a  travelling  minister.  lie  continued 
to  improve  from  that  time  until  he  was  able  to  walk  by  my 
going  alongside  of  him,  and  leading  him  from  our  house 
to  the  church.  He  walked  in  that  way  to  meeting  every 
Sunday  till  October,  but  never  recovered  his  mental  and 
physical  faculties  as  he  had  them  before.  He  always  as- 
cribed his  recovery  to  the  energetic  course  adopted  by  Dr. 
Eaton,  when  he  was  thrown  accidentally  into  his  hands. 
From  the  first  of  October  he  began  visibly  to  decline,  like 
a  person  in  the  consumption.  He  grew  weaker  and  weaker, 
his  articulation  became  more  indistinct,  until  about  the 
middle  of  January  or  first  of  February,  he  ceased  to  pro- 
nounce any  words  but  Yes  and  No.  All  communication 
was  now  cut  off,  except  such  as  could  be  answered  in  that 
manner.  Many  of  his  old  friends  in  that  space  of  time 
came  to  see  him,  Elder  D.  F.  Ladley,  of  Ohio,  who  pub- 
lished an  account  of  his  visit  in  the  Gospel  Herald.  It 
was  always  one  of  the  greatest  luxuries  of  his  life  to  have 
me  sit  down  and  read  to  him,  which  was  now  seemingly 
his  only  remaining  pleasure.  This  he  enjoyed  to  the  last. 
But  from  tlie  first  of  April  to  his  final  exit.  May  12th, 
1852,  he  seldom  ever  uttered  a  word. 

"And  thus  he  passed,  as  it  were,  almost  imperceptibly 
away,  while  his  ever-penetrating  eyes  sparkled  with  the 
utmost  brilliancy  till  they  were  closed  in  death,  which 
painful  task  fell  on  my  brother,  as  he  was  the  only  one  I 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  411 

had  time  to  call  in,  after  I  was  sensible  that  lie  was  de- 
parting. Our  minisler,  Mr.  Eli  Faj,  came  in  soon  after, 
and  our  house  was  filled  with  sorrowing  friends  and 
neighbors." 

Here  are  the  simple  facts.  Thej  confirm  the  view 
that  there  was  a  clear,  inner  light  of  the  intellect, 
which  shone  to  the  last,  and  which  we  believe  was  but 
transiently  eclipsed  in  death.  Thus  died  a  great  and 
a  good  man.  At  his  dwelling.  May  14th,  1852,  Mr. 
Chapin  read  the  Scriptures,  ofi*ered  prayer,  and  made 
appropriate  remarks.  At  the  church,  Rev.  Eli  Fay, 
the  Christian  minister  of  the  place,  delivered  an  appro- 
priate discourse  from  2  Sam.  1 :  19 :  ''  How  are  the 
mighty  fallen  !  "  in  which  he  discussed  the  elements, 
uses  and  end  of  human  greatness.  In  the  solemn 
procession  that  followed  to  its  resting-place  the  mortal 
form,  were  those  who  had  come  from  some  distance 
around,  to  shed  the  reverential  tear  over  the  grave  of 
one  whose  voice  had  been  to  them  a  heavenly  elo- 
quence a  third  of  a  century  ago.  When  the  country 
was  a  wilderness,  his  words  had  swayed  them  as  trees 
are  moved  by  the  winds.  They  come,  the  hoary- 
headed  band,  to  take  a  last  view  of  his  spirit's  fallen 
temple.  By  the  side  of  former  friends  they  bury  him, 
and  over  his  sacred  ashes  rises  a  monument  with  this 
inscription  : 

"JOSEPH  BADGER, 

A    MINISTER    IN    THE    CHRISTIAN    CHURCH. 

DIED    MAY    12,  1852, 

AGED  59  YEARS. 


Here  rests  his  mortal  part.     His  spirit  lives, 
And  guides  us  still  in  virtue's  path. 

His  Children. 


412  MEMOIR    OF 

His  life  strikes  us  as  a  sjnonjme  of  energy,  of  ac- 
complishing force.  His  words  have  penetrated  myr- 
iads of  hearts.  He  had  travelled  many  thousands  of 
miles ;  had  led  to  the  mercy-seat  hosts  of  penitents  ; 
to  the  baptismal  waters  upwards  of  two  thousand  per- 
sons, over  forty  of  whom  became  ministers  of  salva- 
tion ;  had  attended  upwards  of  seven  hundred  fune- 
rals ;  and,  though  merit  is  not  always  to  be  measured 
by  outward  eflfects,  it  is  impossible  to  impartially  re- 
view his  life  as  a  whole,  without  finding  in  it  a  steady 
devotion  to  principles,  a  trusting  reliance  on  God  amid 
the  changes  of  men  and  the  fluctuation  of  time,  which, 
as  we  contemplate,  grow  into  the  sublimity  of  faith. 
He  was  a  hero  of  faith,  and  strongly  impressed  him- 
self upon  his  time. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


OUTLINES    OF   CHARACTER. 


Character,  as  distinguished  from  reputation,  is 
what  we  are  intrinsically  in  moral  and  mental  worth. 
Our  reputations  are  only  the  various  verdict  of  soci- 
ety concerning  us.  Our  characters  are  our  fixed 
value  for  time  and  eternity.  They  are  our  worth  also 
in  word  and  in  deed,  for  these  are  mighty  or  weak 
through  the  spiritual  power  that  lies  back  of  them, 
from  which  they  receive  their  kindling  force  and  in- 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  413 

spiration.  Character  substantially  is  the  end  of  life, 
the  purpose  of  nature,  Providence,  revelations,  trial, 
conscience,  and  temptation.  The  universe  came  from 
it,  reveals  it,  and  strives,  through  all  its  teachings  and 
influences,  to  reproduce  it  in  man.  The  worship  of 
God,  and  the  various  reverence  which  centres  in  man, 
at  once  resolve  themselves  into  the  supreme  worth  for 
which  the  word  character  stands  as  a  sign.  This, 
then,  is  the  true  centre  of  all  biography,  that  into 
which  the  whole  life  is  merged,  and  by  which  it  may 
be  judged.  These  few  pages,  therefore,  will  aim  to 
sketch,  though  it  maybe  imperfectly,  the  main  features 
in  the  character  of  Joseph  Badger. 

When  I  approach  this  subject,  I  am  at  once  struck 
by  the  originality  and  marked  distinctions  of  what  I 
am  to  examine  ;  and,  though  the  naturalness  and  sim- 
plicity which  ever  shone  in  his  language  and  manner 
might  seem  to  promise  an  easy  task,  a  longer  study 
dissipates  the  hope,  and  leaves  the  lasting  impression 
that  a  mind  and  character  like  his  were  never  truth- 
fully and  fully  expressed  in  a  few  words,  and  certainly 
they  were  never  known  by  mere  passing  acquaintance 
or  superficial  observation.  He  was  a  man  of  manifold 
nature,  was  strong  in  many  directions.  He  had 
depths  unseen  by  ordinary  acquaintance  or  by  ordi- 
nary observation  ;  and  to  fully  interpret  one  whose  in- 
ward life  was  so  much  of  it  veiled  from  the  world's 
gaze,  whose  power  of  character  was  in  itself  so  com- 
^  plex  and  diverse,  requires  analytical  patience  and  faith- 
ful study.  I  would  not  intimate  by  this  that  it  is 
invested  in  dark  and  impenetrable  clouds  of  mystery ; 
for  not  a  few  of  his  traits    are,   under  almost   any 


414  MEMOIR    OF 

circumstances,  plainly  discernible,  those,  indeed,  which 
served  to  render  the  hours  of  sociality  agreeable  and 
entertaining  to  all.  His  quick  and  clear  perception, 
his  calm  balance  of  power,  who  would  not  at  once  dis- 
cover ?  But  it  is  the  quality- of  greatness  that  the  man- 
ifold qualities  involved  do  not  admit  of  a  thorough 
comprehension  except  at  the  cost  of  time  and  care. 
That  Joseph  Badger  was  by  nature  a  great  man,  that, 
in  the  sphere  of  his  action,  he  was  so  by  effects  pro- 
duced, it  is  presumed  that  none  will  be  at  all  likely  to 
deny.  Persons  who  could  read  God's  handwriting  of 
ability  in  the  forms  and  features  of  men,  or  in  the  dis- 
course and  action  by  which  superiority  is  indicated, 
were  never  disposed  to  place  him  in  the  rank  of  ordi- 
nary gifts  and  powers.  A  few  may  have  said  that  no 
book  can  add  to  their  knowledge  of  him  ;  that,  for 
years,  they  have  listened  to  his  sermons  ;  have  mingled 
in  his  society  at  their  firesides ;  that  they  know  him 
entirely.  This  conclusion  we  do  not  unqualifiedly 
accept.  It  is  our  impression  that  few  persons  on  the 
earth,  in  the  profoundest  sense,  knew  Joseph  Badger. 
Beyond  what  they  had  observed  lay  much  more  in 
unseen  repose. 

The  free  and  more  airy  moods  of  mind  with  which 
he  usually  met  his  friends  and  mingled  in  society, 
though  combined  with  real  dignity  of  manner,  were 
calculated,  in  some  degree,  to  give  the  impression  of 
entire  acquaintance  to  those  who  could  penetrate  but  a 
small  distance  beneath  the  apparent.  But  there  were 
sober  depths  underlying  the  vivacity  and  social  joy 
of  his  presence.  In  company,  it  is  true,  he  commonly 
avoided  the  introduction   and   discussion   of  weighty 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  415 

themes,  those  requiring  continuity  of  thought,  choosing 
rather  to  converse  on  matters  of  immediate  care  and 
interest.  He  spoke  truthfully  when  he  once  said  to  a 
friend,  "  I  have  three  moods  of  mind  ;  one  that  may  be 
light  and  airy^  one  of  common  seriousness,  and  one  of 
very  deep  seriousness."  They  -who  judge  him  only 
from  the  first  do  not,  cannot  know  him  ;  yet  is  it  not 
more  common  for  people  to  judge  from  the  surface  than 
from  the  deeper  soul  of  one's  life  ?  The  former  is 
easily  seen  ;  the  latter  requires  attention.  Luther  and 
Franklin  were  humorous  men ;  but  those  who  would 
know  them  must  look  to  the  depths  over  which  their 
humor  played. 

As  the  physical  man  is,  by  usual  consent,  the  basis 
of  that  higher  self,  in  which  character,  as  to  its  greater 
meanings,  resides,  it  may  be  worthy  of  recollection 
that  the  bodily  constitution  and  temperament  of  Mr. 
Badger  were  well  adapted  to  power  and  excellence  of 
intellect.  Ilis  constitution,  though  of  fine  quaUty, 
was  naturally  very  strong  and  vigorous  ;  the  difierent 
temperaments  commingled  in  it,  the  sanguine  or  arte- 
rial taking  the  lead.  With  this,  there  was  a  full  de- 
gree of  the  nervous  or  intellectual  temperament,  which 
imparted  much  mental  activity  ;  with  these,  there  was 
a  measure  of  the  bilious  and  lymphatic,  which,  accord- 
ing to  the  usual  explanations  of  modern  science,  give 
endurance,  calmness  and  ease,  supplying  the  wasting 
activities  with  support.  In  early  life,  Mr.  Badger  was 
tall  and  spare  in  figure  ;  about  middle  age,  and  after, 
he  was  more  portly  ;  and,  at  all  times,  his  personal 
appearance  was  noble,  commanding,  and  prepossess- 
ing.    His  likeness,  facing  the  title-page  of  this  volume 


41 G  3IE3IOIR    OF 

which  represents  him  at  the  age  of  fortj-two,  gives 
a  very  good  idea  of  his  intellectual  expression,  with 
the  exception  that  his  brain  was  of  a  larger  cast, 
and,  in  after  life,  his  features  and  form  were  more  full 
than  they  appear  in  this  representation. 

The  intellect  of  Mr.  Badger  was  great,  especially 
so  in  the  use  of  practical  perception.  His  perceptive 
abiUty  was  indeed  immense.  In  seeing  through  char- 
acter, motives,  and  events  ;  in  looking  at  a  new  move- 
ment in  the  moral  world,  or  at  any  practical  enterprise, 
he  had  great,  sudden  perceptions  of  the  reality  before 
him,  on  which  he  formed  his  conclusions  and  acted. 
His  mind  was  quick ;  his  opinions  were  not  usually 
formed  in  slow  processes,  but  were  very  comprehensive, 
very  exact,  and  when  the  final  results  came  round, 
no  man's  former  words  sounded  so  much  like  certain 
prophecy  in  the  quotation  as  his.  His  mind  was  richly 
intuitive  in  these  respects.  He  readily  and  closely 
saw  the  strong  points  of  every  case. 

His  reasoning  intellect  was  strong  and  clear,  and 
when  awakened  was  full  of  power.  But  thought,  in 
its  most  abstract  form,  was  not  his  forte.  He  could 
appreciate  it,  and  estimate  its  value  accurately  in 
others,  could  use  it  himself;  but  it  was  truth,  having 
a  direct  bearing  upon,  and  demonstrations  in,  the 
world  of  practice,  that  roused  his  energies  and  delight- 
fully employed  his  powers.  He  was  American.  The 
form  of  his  mind  was  not,  perhaps,  exactly  philosophi- 
cal, was  not  largely  given  to  seek  out  the  laws  which 
pervade  the  facts  of  nature  and  of  life,  to  treasure  up 
universal  principles  ;  but  he  could  rapidly  work  his 
way  into  the  reality  of  any  cause  that  it  might  inter- 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  417 

est.  him  to  know.  He  readily  saw  important  princi- 
ples. His  mind  was  creative.  He  could  originate 
and  execute  with  great  skill  and  dexterity  ;  the  former 
of  these  functions,  however,  was,  in  our  opinion,  his 
most  favorite  work.  He  often  liked  to  produce  and 
direct  the  plan  for  others  to  carry  into  effect.  His 
acquaintance  with  human  nature,  as  it  appears  in  the 
thousand-fold  diversities  of  the  world,  was  his  pro- 
foundest  knowledge.  His  great  sagacity  always 
seemed  as  intuition,  as  a  native  inspiration.  It  was 
next  to  impossible  to  deceive  him. 

There  is  that  in  the  human  mind  which  takes  the 
name  of  no  one  faculty,  but  which,  in  the  manifes- 
tation, is  entitled  good  sense,  and  "  strong  sense." 
There  are  men  in  the  world,  who  wield  no  scholastic 
terminology,  who  have  no  tendency  to  much  specu- 
lative theorization,  but  nevertheless  have  that  in 
them,  which,  on  the  presentation  of  the  most  carefully 
elaborated  theories,  can  at  once  judge  upon  their 
worth  and  iiiUacy.  This  strong  searching  force  which 
despises  the  artificial  operations  of  logicians,  and  the 
visionary  theorization  of  idealists,  makes  of  them  solid 
pillars  amidst  the  general  fluctuation,  enables  them  to 
say  of  all  the  "  nine  days'  wonders,"  as  they  arrive, 
that  they  are  but  nine  days'  wonders.  In  them  it 
says,  "  The  theory  is  learned  and  rendered  plausible  ; 
but  substantially  there  is  nothing  in  it.  It  is  of  no 
actual  use.  It  hails  from  cloud-land,  and  in  cloud- 
land  it  will  ere  long  dissolve."  Mr.  Badger  was  no 
ideologist ;  he  was  an  actualist,  a  realist,  who  never 
alienated  himself  from  the  circle  of  the  sympathy  of 
mankind,  but  wrought  upon  tliemes  and  enterprises 
18* 


418  MEMOIR    OF 

for  which  the  people  themselves  had  feeling  and  care. 
He  could  easily  weigh  the  humbugs  as  they  arose ; 
and  there  was  no  art  of  proselytism  bj  which  they 
could  be  glued  to  him  or  he  to  them.  Scores  of  wild 
theories  sprung  up  in  his  day.  He  patiently  heard 
the  arguments  therefor,  mildly  responded,  gave  his 
own  opinion,  and  with  it  possibly  a  cheerful  laugh, 
which  was  itself  no  insignificant  argument,  and  proba- 
bly announced  what  he  believed  the  result  would  be 
when  time  should  have  ripened  and  tested  the  fruit. 
The  friends  of  Fourier  built  an  institution  within  two 
miles  of  his  door,  and  kindly  invited  him  to  join ; 
some  of  his  old  acquaintances  with  infatuated  joy 
rushed  into  the  new  millennium.  ^  He  told  them  there 
was  truth  in  the  idea  of  more  fraternity  than  the  selfish 
world  is  disposed  to  enjoy,  but  that  the  conception  of 
society  they  had  adopted  was  visionary,  and  that  all 
would  repent  who  had  thus  invested  their  means.  "  Be 
assured,  friend  G.,  that  in  two  or  three  years  this  whole 
matter  will  fail,  and  your  funds  will  be  lost."  And  so 
it  was.  Millerism,  also,  came  along,  showing  large 
maps  of  the  world's  chronology,  Bible  symbol,  and  all 
that ;  some  of  his  old  ministerial  friends  rushed  into 
the  excitement,  and  cried  aloud  for  the  speedy  coming  of 
the  personal  Christ.  He  was  calm.  He  told  them  it  was 
idle  theory,  that  it  was  theological  egotism ;  and  it  mat- 
tered not  how  strongly  and  flippantly  they  quoted  from 
Daniel  and  John,  or  what  the  array  of  texts  and  his- 
torical passages  might  be  ;  he  had  a  large,  clear,  manly 
brain,  and  knew  that  the  main  fabric  was  w^oven  of 
cobweb.  He  opposed  against  it  strong  arguments,  and 
when  knowing  vanity  and  egotism  on  the  opposite  side 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  419 

became  intolerable,  he  mingled  with  his  argumentation 
the  withering  force  of  satire,  which,  with  him,  was  little 
else  than  long  pieces  of  strong  sense,  made  verj  sharp 
at  the  points. 

This  statement  should  be  made  for  his  mind  and 
speech,  that  whenever  he  spoke  it  was  to  the  point.  It 
told  plainly  on  the  case  in  hand.  His  force  was  never 
lost  by  diffuseness  or  redundancy.  He  could  say  very 
much  in  few  words.  In  coming  to  truth,  he  preferred 
the  shortest  way,  and  cherished,  I  judge,  a  cheerful 
contempt  for  artistic  modes  of  reasoning,  in  which  many 
strive  to  display  so  much  science  of  method.  The  dry 
logician  and  the  disputer  of  words  he  could  endure, 
though  he  never  would  waste  much  time  with  them. 
If  some  one  in  the  company  was  anxious  to  controvert, 
he  usually  turned  to  some  other  person  and  gave  over 
his  part  of  the  question  to  him ;  then,  in  calmly  wit- 
nessing their  play  of  words,  he  derived  great  satisfac- 
tion from  whatever  was  weighty,  sharp,  or  well  directed 
on  either  side,  using  the  occasion  chiefly  as  a  scene  of 
entertainment.  In  him  one  might  see  not  a  little  of 
the  ironical  advice  of  Mephistopheles  to  the  student, 
who  in  recommending  the  study  of  logic  as  a  means  of 
saving  time,  tells  him  that  "  in  this  study  the  mind  is 
well  broken  in  —  is  laced  up  as  in  Spanish  boots,*  so  that 
it  creeps  circumspectly  along  the  path  of  thought," 
minding  the  immense  importance  of  one,  two,  three, 
four,  which  shall  now  cost  him  hours  to  accomplish  what 
he  before  hit  off  at  a  blow.  If,  as  Mephistopheles  said, 
the   actual  operations  of  the  human  mind  are   as  a 

*  One  of  the  means  of  torture  in  the  Spanish  Inquisition. 


420  MEMOIR    OF 

weaver's  loom,  where  one  treadle  commands  a  thousand 
threads,  which  are  invisible  in  the  rapidity  of  their 
movements,  Mr.  B.  was  more  an  actual  weaver  of  the 
real  garment  than  the  philosoj^her  who  steps  in  to  prove 
that  these  processes  must  have  been  so  ;  that  the  first 
was  so,  and  therefore  the  second  came  ;  and  that  since 
the  first  and  second  were,  the  third  was  inevitable.* 
In  arriving  at  truth,  be  it  remembered,  he  preferred 
the  plainest,  directest  roads.  He  was  emphatically  a 
thinking  man ;  and  the  end  of  his  thought,  mostly, 
was  practical  result. 

The  powers  of  his  mind  were  not  rigid  but  flexible, 
as,  under  any  variety  of  scenes,  he  was  capable  of  be- 
ing composed  and  genial.  He  did  not  stickle  on  small 
points  of  theology  or  practice ;  points  he  desired  to 
carry  he  could  gracefully  introduce  ;  those  which  he 
found  it  necessary  or  expedient  to  abandon,  he  could 
give  up  with  easy  indifference.  He  was  a  man  of 
order ;  and ,  perhaps  what  can  be  said  of  but  few 
clergymen,  he  was  a  man  of  skilful  business  talent,  a 
great  tactician,  a  good  economist  and  financier.  "  Not 
one  in  ten  of  mankind,"  said  he,  ''  know  how  to  do 
business.'' 

It  has  been  common  for  persons  to  speak  much  about 
his  shrewdness,  tact,  sagacity  and  cunning.  As  some 
of  these  traits  often  unite  in  unpowerful  and  secretive 
natures,  I  would  say  that  in  him  they  stood  connected 
with  much  decision  of  character,  independence  and 
boldness.  These  stronger  traits  were  manifest  in  every 
stage  of  his  history.      He  stood  erect  and  .strong  in 

»Fauat,  p.  89. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  421 

youth,  when  answering  the  tyrannical  British  magis- 
trate. He  put  the  savages  to  the  extremity  of  violence 
rather  than  acquiesce  in  a  dishonorable  mode  of  con- 
veyance to  the  seat  of  justice  at  the  Three  Rivers. 
When  about  twenty-two,  he  met  a  clergyman  in  New 
England  who  confessed  to  him  that  he  had  preached 
for  twelve  years  in  an  unconverted  state,  and  whose 
prayers  and  sermons  were  then  as  spiritless  as  fallen 
leaves.  Mr.  Badger  invited  him  courteously  to  share 
in  the  services  of  the  Sabbath,  but  on  parting  he  faith- 
fully warned  him  to  seek  the  life-giving  influences  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  These  qualities  of  tact,  shrewdness, 
cunning,  lay  under  the  shadow  of  stronger  and  bolder 
powers.  They  greatly  facihtated  his  success,  so  far 
as  this  depends  en  adaptation  and  proper  management ; 
and  probably  we  cannot  account  for  a  certain  elegant 
aptness  and  fitness  to  the  occasion  and  purpose,  which 
gave  peculiar  charm  to  his  public  discourses,  without 
implying  the  presence  of  these  intellectual  attributes. 
It  is  conceded  that  it  required  the  extraordinary 
demand  of  great  occasions,  or  great  opposition,  as  in 
the  case  of  controversy,  to  bring  out  his  greatest  in- 
tellectual force,  though  he  was  happily  adapted  to  ordi- 
nary occasions.  When  obliged  to  use  his  power,  it 
came  in  strong  and  impressive  forms  of  utterance  ;  all 
saw  his  meaning,  felt  the  force  of  his  illustrations  and 
the  victorious  power  of  will,  which,  in  minds  like  his, 
is  strongly  determined  on  the  achieving  of  its  aims.  In 
controversy,  Joseph  Badger  was  indeed  a  difficult  op- 
ponent. We  have  never  heard  of  any  who  have  claimed 
a  victory  against  him.  The  event  may  possibly  have 
occurred,  but  the  echo  thereof  has  never  come   to  our 


422  MEMOIR    OF 

ears.  We  doubt  that  it  ever  happened.  He  did  not 
challenge  nor  seek  controversy,  nor  did  he  shrink  from 
it  -when  truth  and  the  honor  of  his  cause  demanded 
that  formidable  opponents  should  be  met.  The  po- 
sition of  a  theological  reformer  is  liable,  in  the  early 
stages  of  his  work,  to  receive  a  great  variety  of  assault ; 
and  under  such  circumstances  the  peaceful  quietness 
and  repose  which  reside  in  the  established  state  of  the 
pubhc  mind  are  not  his  legacy.  In  a  degree,  he  is  to 
be  a  moral  hero  and  warrior,  and  if  he  wars  for  truth 
successfully  and  handsomely,  we  should  hasten  to  ren- 
der him  the  wreath  of  honor  and  praise.  We  believe 
that  Joseph  Badger  never  stood  for  the  advocacy  of 
views  which  he  did  not  himself  heartily  believe ;  and 
this  conceded,  we  believe  also  that  he  never  entered  a 
controversial  field  without  the  determination  of  victory, 
the  end  being,  in  all  reason,  not  so  much  to  persuade 
the  wrangling  antagonist  as  to  convince  the  people. 
The  calmness  of  his  intellect  and  the  composure  of 
his  feelings  were  always  conspicuous  at  such  times. 
Though  he  had  high  spirit  and  temper  constitutionally, 
though  his  passional  nature  was  uncommonly  strong, 
he  was,  on  all  occasions  where  the  passions  of  others 
were  likely  to  be  inflamed,  astonishingly  cool.  It  was 
the  coolness  of  a  pilot  amidst  the  storm.  At  all  times 
of  which  we  have  any  knowledge,  Mr.  Badger  was  dis- 
tinguished for  this  self-command,  by  which  he  could 
rise  above  surrounding  excitement  or  present  calamity. 
This  trait  gave  him  great  advantage  in  discussion  ;  for, 
from  his  own  cool  state,  he  was  sure  to  learn  the  weak- 
nesses of  temper  and  of  argument  on  the  opposite  side, 
which  soon  became  advantageous  capital  to  his  cause. 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  423 

But  we  do  not  here  design  to  trace  him  through  his 
controversial  history.  The  glance  we  have  taken  in 
this  direction  is  simply  to  exhibit  certain  quaUties  that 
distinguish  his  mind. 

Imagination,  without  which  there  is  no  blue  sky 
of  starred  excellence  in  our  being,  is  a  faculty  which 
in  some  degree  of  richness  operates  in  all  creative 
minds.  It  was  often  playfully  and  often  seriously 
active  in  the  mind  of  Joseph  Badger.  It  aided  his  free 
and  happy  use  of  language.  It  brought  to  his  service 
a  vast  number  of  natural  illustrations  and  figures,  both 
for  the  ornament  of  public  discourse  and  social  conver- 
sation ;  and  in  the  good  taste  and  fancy,  of  which  the 
clearest  evidences  exist,  is  also  implied  that  sometliing 
finer  than  the  understanding  enriched  him.  He  held 
in  his  mind  a  high  standard  of  poetry ;  therefore  he 
never  sought  to  approach  it  by  creations  of  his  own. 
He  had  intense  feeling  and  delicacy  of  sentiment,  and 
withal  a  vein  of  marvellousness  that  caused  him  at  times 
to  note  in  his  diary  the  dreams  of  his  midnight  slum- 
ber, on  which  he  would  afterwards  linger  in  sober  re- 
flection. Among  his  private  papers  there  are  a  few 
instances  in  which  his  strong  presentiments  are  re- 
corded. The  generous  enthusiasm  of  his  nature,  that 
gave  so  much  life  to  his  early  labors,  and  that  always 
rendered  his  influence  enlivening,  is  well  balanced  by 
the  dehberate  intellect  that  imparted  to  his  action  and 
manner  the  impress  of  composure.  But  it  is  as  a 
matter-of-fact  man  chieflj^,  as  a  utilitarian  in  the  best 
sense  of  that  word,  as  a  definite  thinker,  that  his  true 
character  appears  in  the  world.  He  was  a  great  and 
a  natural  planner,  was  most  in  his  element  when  stand- 


424  MEMOIR    OF 

ing  in  the  centre  of  some  enterprise  whicli  aimed  at 
important  practical  results.  In  every  cause  he  under- 
took, his  power  to  concentrate  himself  upon  the  single 
end  before  him  "was  immense. 

Though  possessed  of  great  suavity  of  manners  and 
smoothness  of  speech,  in  power  of  ivill  and  in  firmness 
of  decision  he  had  few  equals.  He  labored  with  great 
fidelity  and  perseverance  toward  the  achievement  of 
his  main  purpose.  He  could  smile  or  laugh  at  the 
sharpest  opposition  that  might  be  expressed  in  his 
presence,  could  speak  of  his  plans  without  using  te- 
nacious language,  but  everything  proved  in  the  long 
run,  the  power  of  his  will  and  the  solidity  of  his  pur- 
pose. His  Avill  was  by  nature  and  discipUne  strong, 
very  strong ;  and  he  had  that  which  took  away  the 
offence  which  strong-willed  persons  usually  give.  In- 
stead of  appearing  at  all  wilful,  or  stubborn,  he  cast 
himself  upon  the  assignation  of  the  best  reasons,  and 
demeaned  himself  in  a  conciliatory  bearing  toward  all. 
He  knew  how  to  give  in  and  how  to  waive  minor  mat- 
ters that  he  might  compromise  people  of  different 
opinions  and  prejudices,  for  which  he  possessed  great 
tact  and  skill.  Yet  when  opposition  became  decided 
and  open,  he  had  no  great  patience  or  long-suffering 
towards  the  obstacles  that  stood  in  his  way.  He  wanted 
them  out  of  the  path,  and  set  to  work  for  their  removal. 
Though  he  was  always  courteous,  and  in  social  greet- 
ings cordial  to  all,  even  to  enemies  and  opposers  who 
happened  to  meet  him,  he  had  no  taste  for  rivalry  and 
opposition.  He  sought  to  cripple  the  power  of  what- 
ever stood  in  the  way  as  a  solid  barrier  to  the  success 
of  his  dearly  cherished  plans,  an   attribute   this,  which 


KEV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  425 

strong  actors  in  the  world  have,  we  believe,  very  com- 
monly possessed,  from  Napoleon  of  Corsica  to  the  great 
Democrat  of  the  Hermitage.  The  kindness  of  his 
nature  was  native  and  overflowing  ;  but  there  were 
circumstances  under  which  his  severity  was  equally 
conspicuous.  Nevertheless,  toward  the  conquered  party, 
his  generosity  naturally  reacted  in  forms  of  kindness, 
and  of  such,  at  last,  he  often  made  permanent  friends 
and  co-workers. 

The  sympathies  and  kindness  of  Mr.  Badger,  I  have 
elsewhere  alluded  to  as  being  great.  He  had  a  large 
power  of  friendship.  From  this  phase  of  his  nature, 
proceeded  his  facility  for  making  friends  and  attaching 
them  to  himself.  His  friends  became  numerous  wher- 
ever he  went.  We  cannot  account  for  so  noble  a  fact, 
without  conceding  to  him  the  possession  of  a  heart  in 
which  the  magnetism  of  human  kindness  was  great,  for 
it  takes  a  power  to  awaken  a  power,  and  selfishness 
alone  never  became  the  radiant  centre  about  which  the 
hearts  of  the  many  were  happily  drawn.  The  power 
of  sympathy  and  friendship  is  an  attraction  which,  like 
the  physical  property  in  nature  desi^ated  by  this 
name,  is  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  of  the  source 
from  which  it  flows  ;  also,  the  proximity  or  the  dis- 
tance of  objects,  which  suggests  another  law  of  this 
material  energy,  is  likewise  true  in  the  world  of  friend- 
ship. For  it  is  nearness,  that  is  to  say,  it  is  kindred- 
ness  of  mind,  feeling,  and  experience  ;  it  is  the  ability 
to  furnish  other  hearts  with  the  true  objects  of  their 
own  afiections,  that  qualifies  one  to  sit  as  king  or  queen 
on  the  throne  of  friendship  and  love.  He  who  lawfully 
sways  this  sceptre  over  the  multitudes,  is  one  in  whom 


426  MEMOIR    OF 

the  many  are  represented,  who  is  truly  brother  to  each 
and  to  all.  Viewed  from  this  sentiment,  how  can  the 
influences  of  Joseph  Badger  be  accounted  for,  except 
on  the  ground  that  his  heart  was  truly  great  and 
brotherly  ?  A  community  of  strangers  into  wliich  he 
might  come  soon  felt  the  power  of  this  attraction.  Said 
the  honest  Barton  W.  Stone,  of  Kentucky,  in  a  letter 
of  welcome  to  his  intended  second  visit  to  the  South :  — 
"  Your  name  is  dear  to  the  people  of  Georgetown. 
Many  are  anxiously  hoping  to  greet  you;"  —  though 
he  had  but  once  visited  Georgetown  and  other  locali- 
ties south  and  west,  his  name  remained  in  the  hearts 
of  the  people.  This  is  but  a  common  illustration  of 
what  generally  occurred  in  places  where  he  preached 
several  sermons  and  freely  mingled  with  the  people. 
As  a  strong  example  of  the  lasting  attachment  he  had 
the  power  to  inspire  in  his  friends,  I  would  mention  a 
circumstance  recorded  in  his  private  journal  while  at 
Boston. 

Mr.  Jonas  Clark,  of  Dublin,  Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H., 
a  man  of  sound  mind,  w^io  had  not  seen  Mr.  B.  for 
thirteen  years  J)ut  had  listened  to  his  early  ministry, 
went  to  meet  him  at  Boston,  August  20,  1828.  On 
coming  into  his  presence  he  took  him  by  the  hand  and 
said :  "  Can  this  be  Joseph,  my  friend  ?  "  On  being 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  was  unable  to  reply ; 
but  turning  away  his  head  and  leaning  over  a  desk 
near  by,  he  wept  in  silence.  The  memories  of  the  past 
that  rushed  into  his  mind  were  golden  by  affection,  and 
years  of  time  and  much  mingling  with  the  world  had 
not  effaced  or  marred  the  sacred  impress  of  former 
years.     "Oh,  what  majesty,"  said  Mr.  B.,  *'  there  is 


REV     JOSEPH    BADGER.  427 

in  such  tears  of  love  I  True  friendship  is  more  lasting 
than  time,  and  it  outlives  every  other  principle.'* 
Though  Mr.  Badger  had  an  intellect  that  was  strong 
and  peculiarly  original  and  self  relying,  we  think  on  the 
whole  that  his  stronghold  was  far  more  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people  than  in  their  merely  intellectual  regard  and 
admiration.  His  neidibors  who  have  lived  near  him 
for  twenty  and  thirtj^  years,  testify  to  the  strict  and 
uniform  kindness  of  his  feelings  and  acts  as  a  neighbor. 
To  young  ministers  and  to  feeble  churches,  he  ex- 
tended the  wealth  of  his  sympathy.  He  was  both  a 
brother  in  Christ  and  a  father  in  Israel.  Particularly 
was  his  sympathy  deep  and  strong  for  young  men  just 
entering  into  the  ministry.  Many  things  in  his  own 
life  qualified  him  to  be  their  benefactor.  He  had  him- 
self passed  through  great  trials  of  mind  and  of  outward 
circumstances,  when  a  young  man  of  nineteen  and 
twenty,  as  the  result  of  his  choice,  or  rather  of  his 
acceptance  of  the  preacher's  mission.  No  young  man 
would  be  likely  to  stand  in  the  midst  of  greater  em- 
barrassments than  he  had  stood.  Then  his  extensive 
observation  of  men  and  things,  his  knowledge  of  human 
nature,  his  own  varied  experience  of  years  in  the 
Gospel  ministry,  his  tender  sympathies,  his  gentle  and 
easy  manners,  which  took  away  fear  and  restraint, 
peculiarly  fitted  him  for  a  nearness  of  access  to  their 
minds,  to  render  them  counsel  to  meet  their  doubts,  and 
to  give  them  instruction  and  needful  encouragement. 
He  had  great  skill  with  which  to  inspire  hope  in  a  young 
man.  He  could  prune  his  defective  habits,  also,  with- 
out giving  ofience ;  and  well  did  he  know  how  to  set 
his  mind  upon  new  trains  of  thought.     First  of  all,  it 


428  MEMOIR    OF 

was  his  policy  to  find  out  the  real  material  of  a  young 
man's  mind,  to  learn  his  real  character.  To  effect  this, 
he  gradually  threw  off  whatever  in  manner  should  serve 
to  impose  restraint,  became  famihar,  perhaps  in  some 
instances  greatly  so,  and  turned  conversation  so  as  to 
hit  on  every  side  of  human  nature  and  of  the  supposed 
character  of  the  person  whose  mental  and  moral  dimen- 
sions he  desired  to  take.  In  a  few  days,  at  most,  he 
developed  his  characteristics  far  enough  to  be  com- 
pletely satisfied  of  his  capacity,  principles  and  promise. 
I  do  not  say  that  this  was  his  method  in  all  cases,  but  I 
know  of  some  instances  in  which  it  was,  and  have  heard 
of  it  in  others.  The  wisdom  of  this  procedure  appears 
in  the  fact  that  to  qualify  young  men  for  the  ministry, 
respect  must  be  had  for  what  in  them  is  individual,  as 
there  are  no  uniform  theological  moulds  into  which 
human  nature  can  be  successfully  fused  and  run  ;  and 
it  had  the  advantage  also  of  enabling  the  counsellor  to 
decide  at  the  beginning,  the  most  important  of  all 
questions,  whether  a  young  man  is  not  mistaking  the 
meaning  of  God  as  announced  in  his  nature,  by  assum- 
ing the  position  of  a  spiritual  leader.  He  gave  them 
books  to  read  and  to  keep  ;  taught  them  the  great 
importance  of  a  healthy  degree  of  physical  culture ; 
gave  them  his  views  of  the  most  useful  and  successful 
methods  of  preaching  ;  taught  the  supreme  importance 
of  religious  experience ;  looked  out  for  them  fields  of 
labor,  took  them  to  his  own  appointments,  made  jour- 
neys with  them,  and  if  any  diffident  young  man  of  merit 
was  mortified  at  the  imperfection  and  feebleness  of  his 
own  public  efforts,  he  had  the  finest  skill  in  restoring  to 
him  his  lost  confidence.     IMany  whose  conversions  took 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  429 

place  under  his  preaching,  became  ministers  ;  and  very 
many  owe  their  earliest  and  best  lessons  in  the  ministry 
to  his  examples  and  counsels.  To  sum  up  his  faculty 
in  this  direction,  in  few  words,  I  should  say,  he  greatly 
excelled  in  the  power  of  calling  out  the  minds  of  others, 
in  developing  their  resources  for  good. 

He  was  in  the  habit  of  treating  young  men  as  if  he 
respected  their  wisdom.  He  asked  their  advice  on  his 
own  plans  and  enterprises.  This  he  did,  not  so  much 
to  receive  new  information  as  to  set  their  minds  upon 
practical  thinking,  and  to  connect  their  sympathy  and 
intelligence  with  that  which  should  increase  their 
knowledge .  He  was  always  very  fond  of  young  people  ; 
and  nothing  more  readily  enlisted  his  attention  than 
the  appearance  of  a  young  man  of  promise  just  enter- 
ing the  Gospel  ministry.  He  cordially  took  him  by  the 
hand,  welcomed  him  to  his  own  fireside,  and  invariably 
and  reverently  taught  him  that  there  is  no  station  in 
the  universe,  that  can  be  occupied  by  a  human  being, 
which  is  in  itself  so  truly  honorable  and  so  sacredly 
responsible  as  that  of  the  Christian  minister.  The  same 
genial  power  of  development  here  spoken  of  in  regard 
to  young  ministers,  was  equally  manifest  in  relation  to 
young  writers.  Very  much  of  his  influence  was  genial ; 
therefore,  like  the  sun's  ray,  it  called  out  the  life  on 
which  it  shone. 

His  sympathy  was  also  cosmopolitan.  He  had  a 
passion  to  know  the  stirring  events  of  the  world.  The 
great  enterprises  and  achievements  in  different  countries 
awakened  him.  He  was  uncommonly  fond  of  the  news. 
A  new  school  of  philosophers  springing  up  in  a  foreign 
country  would  not  escape  his  notice ;  but  he  had  far 


430  MEMOIR    OF 

greater  interest  in  a  new  series  of  events  that  might  be 
unfolding,  and  auguring  changes  in  the  empires  and  in 
the  social  condition  of  man.  He  watched  the  nations. 
He  also  watched  the  various  sects  and  political  parties 
of  his  own  country.  He  read  every  week  the  most 
widely  circulated  Roman  CathoUc  paper  of  the  new 
continent,  studied  the  olden  structure  of  their  organi- 
zation ;  and  freely  and  respectfully  visited  Roman 
Catholic  clergymen  whenever  he  found  a  resident  priest 
within  the  vicinity  of  his  own  labors.  Father  William 
O'Reilly,  of  Rochester,  a  very  worthy  man  in  the 
Catholic  ministry,  frequently  received  his  calls  and  most 
kindly  reciprocated  his  friendship.  Mr.  Badger  had 
indeed  no  tendencies  whatever  toward  Roman  Catholi- 
cism, but  he  profoundly  respected  religion  and  human 
nature,  and  was  pleased  to  see  them  in  their  various 
phases  and  manifestations.  There  were,  I  would  opine, 
several  elements  in  the  ^Mother  Church  that  had  his 
respect.  Indeed,  how  could  it  have  been  otherwise  ? 
Protestantism  has  not  in  the  main  been  largely  origina- 
tive in  theology.  Nearly  all  its  great  doctrines  coming 
under  the  head  of  dogma,  are  even  now  those  that  exist 
in  Rome  and  that  proceeded  from  Rome.  Omission 
ajid  modification,  more  than  origination  are,  thus  far, 
the  distinction  of  what  is  most  revered  in  Protestant 
faith.  In  the  preaching  of  Joseph  Badger,  all  seemed 
to  feel  the  wide  and  liberal  sympathy  of  his  doctrines. 
Said  General  Ross,  of  Wilkesbarre,  who  went  some 
half  a  dozen  miles  to  hear  him  speak,  October,  1830  :  — 
*'  I  never  heard  such  republican  preaching  as  that  be- 
fore. The  society  who  hold  to  these  principles  must 
prosper." 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  431 

Within  the  view  here  offered,  mention  might  justly 
be  made  of  the  reach  of  influence  he  gained  over  the 
diverse  grades  of  man.  The  intelligent  and  the  igno- 
rant, the  believer  and  the  sceptic,  the  man  of  inward 
holiness,  and  the  hardest  specimens  of  sin  and  unbe- 
lief, looked  up  when  they  heard  he  was  in  town  ;  and, 
from  some  earnest  sympathy,  felt  that  they  should  hear 
him.  He  seemed  to  have  a  key  fitted  to  unlock  all 
hearts,  so  that,  from  murderers  and  drunkards,  as  well 
as  from  the  penitent  and  faithful,  he  drew  a  tear,  and 
w^on  a  confidence  through  which  he  had  access  to  what 
was  best  in  their  being.  It  not  unfrequently  hap- 
pened that  he  had  those  in  his  audience  who  would 
have  listened  to  no  one  else,  and  some  who  were  noted 
for  boldness  and  originality  of  sin  he  ofttimes  per- 
suaded into  a  divine  faith,  in  which  they  were  stead- 
fast and  fife-long  in  their  pursuit.  What  signify  such 
phenomena  ?  At  least  this  is  implied,  that  the  speaker 
had  a  wide  form  of  sympathy,  and  that  the  manifold 
experiences  of  the  world  were  comprehended  by  him. 

In  meeting  him  often,  one  never  felt  that  he  met  a 
stereotyped  man.  He  was  new  at  each  period.  So 
testify  his  old  parishioners.  They  say,  that,  in  every 
sermon,  there  was  something  fresh,  something  that  was 
unsaid  at  previous  times,  and  was  new  to  them.  Those 
who  had  been  acquainted  with  him  for  years  would  see 
new  traits  of  character,  as  the  varying  phase  of  circum- 
stance and  association  might  suggest.  He  was  plain- 
spoken  ;  yet,  beyond  that  plain,  bold  speech,  the  re- 
served and  the  unspoken  could  often  claim  large  ter- 
ritories their  own.  Indeed,  no  man  of  depths  was 
ever  read  throughout  as  an  alphabet  is  read. 


432  MEMOIR    OF 

No  man,  probably,  ever  had  a  stronger  individual- 
ity. He  was  Joseph  Badger,  and  no  one  else.  He 
was  quite  free  from  personal  .eccentricity ;  was  easj" 
and  graceful.  But  on  whom  was  the  impress  of  indi- 
viduality ever  more  decidedly  made  ?  "Who  did  he 
imitate  ?  Look  at  his  language,  his  manners,  his 
modes  of  treating  a  subject,  his  voice,  his  entire  action, 
and  tell  us  who  was  his  pattern.  AVhat  original  stood 
on  the  foreground  of  his  reverence,  commanding  even 
an  unconscious  conformity  ?  But  one  answer  can  be 
given  to  these  questions.  He  was  a  man  of  marked 
character,  and  original  be^-ond  what  is  common  to  men 
of  superior  endowments.  Persons  who  had  not  seen 
him  for  many  years  at  once  recognized  him  at  night, 
on  entering  a  stage-coach  or  steamboat,  merely  from 
his  voice.  His  shortest  busmess  letters  —  and  very 
many  of  his  letters  are  composed  of  but  a  couple  of 
paragraphs,  and  some  of  but  a  very  few  sentences  — 
are  stamped  with  the  peculiar  character  of  his  mind. 
They  are  so  concise,  so  direct,  so  comprehensive. 
Character  and  genius  appear  in  small  as  well  as  in 
great  things.  Often,  in  letters  of  one  short  paragraph, 
have  I  been  reminded  of  Napoleon,  of  the  clear,  brief, 
pithy  statements  by  which  that  commander  expressed 
himself,  both  in  vocal  and  in  written  messages.  Since 
the  world  stood,  we  are  satisfied  there  has  been  but 
one  Joseph  Badger,  and  we  will  risk  our  credit  at 
prophecy  in  the  declaration  that  another  w^ill  never 
appear.  Not,  indeed,  that  the  creative  resources  of 
divinity  or  humanity  are  in  the  least  abated,  but  the 
pure  originalities  of  the  Creator  in  human  liistory  are 
never  repeated. 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  433 

In  drawing  the  just  outlines  of  his  character, 
there  is  one  prominent  feature  that  commands  our 
attention.  I  mean  the  strong  proclivity  of  his  mind 
to  lead,  to  plan,  to  direct,  to  be  at  the  centre  of 
operations,  to  be  first.  This  proclivity  cannot  be 
denied  ;  nor  can  it  be  affirmed  that  it  was  accustomed 
to  clothe  itself  in  assumptivelj  offensive  forms.  His 
passage  to  the  pilot's  station  was  easy  and  natural,  and 
his  labor  there  appeared  as  a  matter  of  course.  Two 
reasons  account  for  this  trait.  The  first  and  chief  is 
founded  in  nature ;  the  second,  in  that  discipline  of 
experience  which,  for  many  years,  required  him  to  act 
a  leader's  part.  If  we  examine  whatever  is  success- 
ful in  the  history  of  events  belonging  to  associated 
action,  we  shall  find  that  action  to  be  led  on  by  some 
guiding  mind.  Everything  of  much  import  has  its 
leader,  from  the  passage  of  the  children  of  Israel 
through  the  Red  Sea  to  the  founding  of  the  latest  lit- 
erary institution.  Even  a  revolt,  a  schism,  must  have 
a  head.  The  God  who  has  anticipated  all  human 
wants  has  not  neglected  this  need  of  mankind,  but  has 
given  them  many  commanding,  guiding  spirits,  whose 
quickness  of  perception,  concentration,  foresight,  cour- 
age, and  sympathy,  inspire  the  many  with  confidence 
in  their  wisdom.  Such  men  are  God's  choice  gifts. 
They  carry  their  credentials  in  their  abihty.  And,  as 
the  real  man,  under  whatever  circumstances,  will  tell, 
there  is  no  good  reason  why  society  should  not  recog- 
nize its  appropriate  guides.  Happy  are  they  that  do 
this.  The  birds  that  voyage  many  leagues  to  the 
south,  and  the  flocks  that  roam  in  the  freedom  of  the 
19 


431:  MEMOIR    OF 

mid,  never  err  in  their  selection  of  leaders.     Their 
chiefs  are  never  stupid. 

Granting  this,  that  some  are  made  to  lead  and  that 
many  are  born  to  follow,  it  is  important  and  right  that 
he  who  can  serve  his  fellows  best  by  acting  a  leading 
part  should  kyiow  his  station.  It  will  be  natural  for 
him  to  start  first,  to  stand  at  the  centre  of  operation, 
and,  if  he  is  kind  and  fraternal  to  all,  as  true  leaders 
ever  are,  none  can  justly  feel  that  he  is  out  of  his 
place,  or  that  they  are  shaded.  The  true  leader  in 
any  true  cause  rejoices  in  every  sign  of  merit  in 
others.  Their  strength  is  his  wealth.  In  the  words 
of  Festus, 

"  lie  would  not  shade  an  atom  of  another, 
To  make  a  sun  his  slave,  or  a  god  his  brother." 

Yet  what  would  we  think  of  a  pilot  who  on  the  sea 
should  hesitate  in  his  services  through  fear  that  others 
might  regard  him  as  too  fonvard,  or  too  high  in  his 
aspiration  ?  When  the  right  man  leads  the  way,  the 
reasonable  are  satisfied,  are  glad  that  they  are  pro- 
vided for,  and  they  are  the  stronger  for  being  inspired 
with  the  hope  and  vigor  of  their  guide.  Mr.  Badger 
was  in  his  element,  we  confess,  when  his  directing 
genius  swayed  the  action  of  the  day  ;  and  the  success 
of  his  guidance  is  the  fair  proof  of  his  value.  It  was 
his  element,  because  of  his  nature  and  evident  mission, 
and  not  from  artificial  or  ostentatious  reasons.  He 
counselled  much  with  his  brethren.  He  prayed  to  God 
for  light.  Indeed,  he  was  naturally  diffident,  though 
his  strength  and  boldness,  as  called  out  by  demand, 
might  have  made  the  impression  of  a  conscious  and 


REV.   JOSEPH   BAJ)GER.  435 

perpetual  feeliDg  of  self-sufficiency.  He  had  not,  I 
am  sure,  a  high  form  of  self-esteem.  But  he  was  a 
a  leader,  and  when  so,  the  cause  he  espoused  was 
alive  with  interest  and  accumulated  power. 

It  will  he  seen  that,  from  the  broad  catholicity  of 
his  early  labors,  his  action,  in  later  years,  grew  ap- 
parently more  denominational.  But  in  this  there  is 
no  contradiction.  lie  followed  the  line  of  duty.  At 
no  time  in  his  life  did  he  plead  for  a  sectarian  denom- 
inationalism  based  on  creed,  or  mere  doctrinal  plat- 
form. Always  and  forever  was  he  opposed  to  this.  In 
one  of  the  first  days  of  October,  1842,  I  remember 
that  some  two  or  three  ministers  were  discussing  the 
subject  of  Christian  union  in  his  parlor,  with  the  view 
of  stating  its  true  basis.  As  usual  with  him,  he  avoided 
entering  into  private  controversy ;  but  after  all  had 
said  what  they  thought  on  the  subject,  he  added,  in 
substance,  these  words  :  "  Gentlemen,  there  seems  to 
be  something  light  in  our  conversation  this  morning. 
When  I  go  into  a  new  place  and  preach,  and  have  oc- 
casion to  organize  a  church,  or  receive  members,  I 
always  ask  these  questions.  Is  the  man  who  would 
join  us  a  man  of  good  influence  ?  Is  his  influence  on 
the  side  of  virtue  and  good  order  in  society  ?  Will 
his  example  be  a  light  to  the  church  and  to  the  world  ? 
If  I  am  satisfled  on  these  points  I  have  no  more  ques- 
tions to  ask." 

His  path  in  this  respect  was  a  natural  one.  The 
preaching  of  the  early  ministers,  which  ignored  secta- 
rianism, which  was  founded  ui  the  religion  of  experi- 
ence, in  spiritual  communion  with  God,  and  in  the 
fellowship  of  all  sauits,  was  exceedingly  prosperous. 


436  MEMOIR    OF 

Thousands  were  drawn  bj  this  magnetism  of  liberal 
principles  into  union ;  and  the  strong  opposition  they 
encountered  from  those  who  deified  mere  dogma  in 
theology,  also  served  to  make  them  one  body  in  the 
world.  From  the  very  nature  of  the  social  law,  masses 
wiio  are  strongly  moved  by  new  truths  or  errors  do 
come  together  into  organic  form.  A  religious  com- 
munity once  created,  must  have  its  papers,  associations 
and  customs ;  so  that  in  a  short  time  it  will  happen 
that  the  freest  principles  in  religion  will  appear  to  be 
invested  with  sectarian  form.  But  sect  and  denomina- 
tion are  not  synonymous.  Br.  Badger's  labors  were 
to  build  up  the  free,  pure  and  holy  principles  of  the 
Christian  religion,  without  limiting  them  by  any 
boundary  of  the  intellect,  by  any  limit  except  virtue, 
holiness  and  love.  In  the  concentration  of  his  mind 
in  editorial  life,  in  pastoral  relations,  in  anxious  con- 
cern for  the  spread  of  the  principles  he  had  preached 
in  his  youth,  in  his  general  services,  to  the  denomina- 
tion to  which  he  belonged,  I  see  nothing  that  wars  with 
the  freedom  of  his  early  position  in  1812  ;  nothing  but 
what  appears  as  the  proper,  natui^al  course  of  the  cur- 
rent of  hfe. 

The  genesis  of  a  new  people,  just  born  into  religious 
being,  like  the  genesis  of  nature,  has  its  period  of 
chaos,  of  unorganized  elements.  This  was  the  case 
with  the  denomination  called  Christians ;  and  though 
their  transition  to  order  and  system  was  aided  by  many 
minds,  it  is  my  conviction,  from  the  testimony  of  those 
who  were  familiar  with  those  early  years,  that  to  Joseph 
Badger  more  than  to  any  other  one  man  they  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  order  and  system  into 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  437 

their  Conferences  and  into  their  general  modes  of  ac- 
tion. He  defended  order  and  organization  with  great 
success.  He  was,  indeed,  the  founder  of  the  regular 
organization  of  Conference,  having  cognizance  of  the 
moral  standing  of  ministers.* 

In  short,  Mr.  Badger  was  a  man  of  a  rich  and  many- 
sided  nature  ;  not  of  one  idea  nor  of  one  fortress  of 
energy.  His  intellect  was  clear  and  strong.  His  pas- 
sions also  were  strong.  His  physical  power  and  dignity 
of  person  far  surpassed  the  average  of  men.  His 
kindness  was  great ;  his  courage  and  decision  were 
also  great.  His  social  feelings  and  social  power  were 
of  uncommon  vigor  ;  few  indeed  could  entertain  com- 
pany with  so  much  satisfaction  as  he.  Though  familiar, 
none  could  approach  him  irreverently.  He  had  deep 
and  ahiding  faith  in  God.  He  also  honored  reason, 
and  asked  her  light  through  the  darkness  of  life.  He 
loved  a  denomination ;  yet  through  it  he  sought  to  im- 
press for  good  the  human  family.  He  loved  ideas,  and 
was  a  strong  dealer  in  facts.  He  could  dissolve  assem- 
blies in  tears,  and  if  he  chose,  illumine  their  coun- 
tenances with  joy  and  mirth.  He  could  unfold  the  holy 
meaning  of  Scripture,  could  draw  from  the  deep  wells 
of  the  religious  life,  could  lead  the  repenting  sinner 
into  the  inner  sanctuary  of  spiritual  rest  and  peace. 

*  The  first  local  Conference  regularly  organized  in  the  United 
States,  for  the  transaction  of  general  business  and  for  the  keeping 
of  a  pure  ministry,  was  called  by  him  at  Hartwick,  N.  Y.,  1818.  He 
■was  the  leading  spirit  of  that  body,  and  ably  met  the  objections  that 
were  raised  against  its  objects.  In  1817  he  wrote  some  letters  to  in- 
dividual preachers,  pleading  for  an  association  of  churches  and  min- 
ister^,  to  which  ministers  should  be  responsible  for  the  characters 
they  sustain. 


438  MEMOIR    OP 

He  could  also  make  the  most  effective  speech  at  a  rail- 
road meeting,  or  on  any  enterprise  in  which  practical 
sagacity  and  foresight  were  essential  to  success.  He 
had  self-care  ;  he  knew  how  to  provide  for  his  own 
wants,  and  how  to  extend  his  manly  sympathies  to 
others.  He  was  keenly  sensitive  ;  and,  under  the 
greatest  troubles,  his  eye  was  calm  and  his  countenance 
unchanged.  He  loved  a  sermon  ;  he  also  loved  a  song. 
He  was,  in  brief,  a  natural  man,  a  natural  minister. 
No  clerical  tones  could  be  detected  in  his  voice.  He 
spoke  like  a  man,  who  had  a  definite  knowledge  of 
what  he  intended  to  say.  His  bearing  in  society  well 
sustained  the  dignity  of  his  calling.  He  was  true  to 
the  main  purpose  of  his  life.  The  needle  vibrates,  but 
through  all  the  years  of  its  being  the  true  magnet  turns 
to  the  pole.  In  1812  he  began  his  ministry  ;  in  1852 
he  bade  farewell  to  earth.  Through  this  long  period, 
whilst  his  ability  lasted,  he  adhered  to  the  w^ork  of 
preaching  salvation  and  of  building  up  the  holy  inter- 
ests of  Zion.  The  true  magnet  was  he,  or  we  should 
not  have  witnessed  this  long  and  faithful  adherence  to 
the  fixed  star  of  his  faith.  He  indeed  had  errors.  He 
had  faults  ;  for  he  was  only  a  man.  Men  constituted 
as  he  was,  in  erring,  often  err  strongly.  But  when 
such  persons  err,  there  are  large  resources  of  honor 
and  goodness  left,  by  which  they  arise  and  shine.  The 
errors  of  superior  men,  said  Confucius,  are  like  the 
eclipse  of  the  sun  and  moon.  All  men  observe  them, 
and  all  look  for  their  reformation.  Also  it  happens,  in 
the  order  of  creation,  that  great  natures  have  strong 
opponents  and  strong  enemies.  The  lion  is  assailed 
by  the  wild  boar  ;  the  whale  is  opposed  by  the  sword- 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  439 

fisli  and  the  thrasher.  Thus  Washington  and  Webster, 
in  their  day,  were  followed  by  mighty  assailants,  in 
the  form  of  prejudice  and  calumny.  Though  Mr. 
Badger's  sphere  of  action  was  unpolitical  and  sacred, 
it  was  his  fortune  to  have  many  strong  friends  and  at 
times  a  few  strong  opponents.  But  all,  we  believe, 
wha  knew  him  well,  regard  his  memory  and  revere  his 
name.     He  was  a  good  man. 

Genuinely,  he  was  a  great  man,  capable  by  nature 
of  acting  successfully  on  a  wider  theatre  than  the  one 
he  filled ;  but,  we  think  he  occupied  the  best  position 
for  usefulness.  Admitting  that  he  had  natural  powers, 
which,  if  trained  in  the  widest  field  of  the  world's  ac- 
tion, had  equalled  in  policy  a  Talleyrand,  or,  in  the 
creation  of  great  and  successful  plans,  a  Napoleon  or  a 
Wellington,  how  much  better  is  the  retrospect,  in  the 
eyes  of  all  heavenly  wisdom,  to  survey  his  labors  as 
being  directed  to  the  salvation  of  men,  to  the  establish- 
ment in  the  church  of  order  and  prosperity,  and  to  the 
dissemination  of  a  great  truth  in  Christendom,  which, 
though  it  may  have  been  a  century  in  advance  of  the 
age,  is  destined  to  fill  the  whole  earth.  This  truth  is 
the  declaration  that  true  religion  and  the  right  bond  of 
union  among  Christians,  are  a  divine  life,  and  not  a 
mental  assent,  a  theological  belief.  We  own  the  hand 
of  Providence  in  the  gift  of  such  men  to  the  world ; 
and  whether  appreciated  now  or  not,  according  to  the 
demand  of  justice,  we  boldly  aJSrm  that  Joseph  Badger 
has  declared  truths,  made  sacrifices,  and  exerted  in- 
fluences on  earth  as  a  theological  reformer,  whose 
effects  shall  not  die  away  in  centuries.  They  who 
help  the  world's  progress  are  doubtless  its  first  bene- 


440  MEMOIR    OF 

factors ;  and  we  have  this  firm  faith,  that  the  world  is 
now,  and  ever  will  be,  the  wealthier  from  his  having 
lived  in  it." 

"  No  farther  seek  his  merits  to  disclose, 

Or  draw  his  frailties  from  their  dread  abode, 
Where  they  alike  in  trembling  hope  repose, 
The  bosom  of  his  Father  and  his  God." 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


CONTEMPORARIES. 


Elsewhere  allusion  has  been  made  to  the  extreme 
diflSculty,  to  the  impossibility  even,  that  accompanies 
an  effort  to  imbodj  a  speaker  like  Mr.  Badger,  entire, 
in  written  words.  Yet  it  is  due  to  the  readers  of  his 
Biography  that  some  definite  attention  be  called  to  this 
part  of  his  ministerial  accomplishments.  There  was 
nothing  of  the  trumpet-blast  in  his  oratory.  It  was 
liquid.  It  flowed  as  a  current  from  a  fountain,  and, 
hke  a  current,  at  times  was  brisk  and  playful  in  move- 
ment. Simplicity,  ease,  dignity,  clearness,  were  his 
graces.  A  power  to  command  the  entire  attention,  to 
deal  in  surprises  in  unfolding  a  subject,  to  keep  an 
audience  for  hours  without  weariness,  was,  in  a  rare 
degree,  his  possession. 

The  earliest  written  address  I  have  noticed  is  an 
oration  delivered  July  4, 1819,  atPenfield,  New  York. 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER,  441 

Its  text  is,  "  Righteousness  exalteth  a  nation,"  and  its 
motto,  the  words  of  Barbauld, 

"  August  she  sits,  and  with  extended  h'ands 
Holds  forth  the  Book  of  Life  to  distant  lands." 

Instead  of  beginning  as  gaseous  orators  usually  did 
and  do  on  such  occasions,  with  a  patriotic  vaunting, 
he  alludes  to  the  nobleness  of  man's  nature,  which 
originally  was  designed  for  self-government. 

"Man;"  he  said,  "is  the  noblest  part  of  the  work  of 
God.  He  is  made  capable  of  great  good  and  of  enjoying 
great  happiness  ;  is  formed  for  society,  and  qualified  for 
government;  he  is  capable  of  enjoying  God's  blessings 
here  and  his  eternal  presence  hereafter.  In  his  first  state 
he  had  an  extensive  dominion  over  every  creature  of  the 
earth,  but  in  consequence  of  sin  the  crown  falls  from  his 
head,  guilt,  misery,  and  slavery  become  his  companions. 
Nothing  but  righteousness  can  extricate  mortals  from  this 
low  condition  and  restore  to  them  that  holiness  and 
government  which  Heaven  designed  them  to  enjoy.  Rea- 
son and  revelation  concentrate  their  light  in  the  human 
breast,  and  prompt  us  to  contemplate  with  wonder  the 
stupendous  works  of  our  glorious  Author,  *  to  look  through 
Nature  up  to  Nature's  God,'  and  to  behold  also  the  mighty 
changes  and  revolutions  which  have  occurred  on  the  great 
theatre  of  nations." 

This  address,  which  is  full  of  historical  remark  and 
practical  reflection,  is  throughout  a  cool  and  rational 
view  of  the  topics  introduced.  He  glances  over  the 
discovery  of  the  Continent,  the  settlement  of  the  Colo- 
nies, the  Indian,  French,  and  American  wars,  the 
memory  of  heroes,  the  effect  of  America  on  foreign 
19* 


442  MEMOIR    OF 

nations,  the  origin  of  the  two  forms  of  government, 
monarchical  and  republican,  locating  the  former  at 
Egypt  and  the  latter  at  Rome.  After  assigning 
five  or  six  reasons  showing  wherein  the  American 
government  is  better  than  any  other,  he  contrasts  its 
glories  with  other  nations,  and  with  the  savage  state 
which  had,  not  long  previous,  occupied  the  same  theatre 
of  action.     He  says  :  — 

•'  Ours  is  the  best  government  on  the  earth.  1.  Because 
it  affords  greater  privileges  than  are  enjoyed  in  any  other 
nation.  In  no  otlier  country  do  Jews  and  Gentiles  enjoy 
equal  riglits ;  and  it  is  only  in  North  America  that  a 
descendant  of  Abraham  can  oioi  a  foot  of  land.  2.  Be- 
cause our  government  establishes  an  equality  of  rights 
among  all  classes  of  citizens,  unknown  among  other  na- 
tions, o.  Because  we  have  a  form  of  government  and 
laws,  not  arbitrarily  imposed,  but  of  our  own  choice.  4. 
Because  we  have  a  voice  in  the  election  of  all  the  officers 
who  make  and  administer  the  laws.  5.  Because  the 
liberties  of  conscience  are  enjoyed  by  all.  6.  Because 
our  government  establishes  no  theory  of  religion  in  favor 
of  any  one  sect.  Among  the  nations  it  has  been  thought 
A  great  honor  to  have  some  established  mode  of  religion. 
But  how  gross  the  error!  AVe  might,  with  even  more 
propriety,  prescribe  to  our  subjects  a  system  of  diet,  or  a 
course  of  medicine.  Indeed,  there  was  once  a  law  in 
France  which  prohibited  a  physician  from  giving  an  emetic 
in  any  case ;  law  excluded  potatoes  as  an  article  of  food, 
an  even  in  Massachusetts  the  legislature  once  decreed 
that  every  man's  hair  should  be  cut,  that  none  should 
wear  it  long." 

"  Would  you  see  the  beauties  of  law  religion  ?  In  Bab- 
ylon, the  king  set  up  a  golden  image  and  commanded  all 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  443 

tD  worship  it;  inconsequence  of  a  refusal,  Daniel  was 
cast  into  the  lions'  den.  Herod  commanded  all  the  young 
children  to  be  slain.  This  was  law  religion.  Saul  of 
Tarsus  obtained  letters  from  the  priests  to  drag  men  and 
women  to  prison  who  believed  in  Jesus.  Tliis  was  law 
religion.  Paul,  Silas,  Peter  and  John,  were  whipped  and 
imprisoned  for  preaching  Christ.  A  holv  Jesus  was  con- 
demned by  false  witnesses,  and  by  wicked  hands  was 
slain.  This  was  laiu  religion.  Charles  IX,  of  France, 
during  his  reign,  put  to  death  300,000  Protestants,  of 
Mphich  he  often  afterwards  made  his  boasts  ;  Louis  IV 
succeeded  him,  and  in  his  days  there  were  put  to  death  in 
England,  1,200,000.  This  was  law  religion.  Add  to 
these  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary.  I'rom  such  religion, 
gracious  Lord,  evermore  deliver  us.  In  good  old  Con- 
necticut it  was  once  believed  that  the  use  of  tobacco  was 
the  great  and  crying  sin  of  the  world.  Accordingly,  an  edict 
was  passed  that  if  any  man  was  known  to  use  it  within  a 
mile  of  any  house,  he  should  be  subjected  to  a  heavy  fine. 
How  undignified  government  may  become  when  it  aban- 
dons its  lesritimate  aims  !  True  religion  never  needed  the 
aid  of  the  sword,  nor  the  authority  of  human  law  to  en- 
force it.  It  is  able  to  support  itself  and  all  who  embrace 
it." 

*' No  country  has  risen  to  rank,  power,  and  respect- 
ability so  rapidly  as  the  United  States.  England  has 
been  six  hundred  years  in  arriving  at  what  she  now  is. 
France  has  stood  eight  hundred  years  as  a  nation.  Aus- 
tria has  had  one  thousand  years  of  advancement  from  her 
primitive  barbarous  state.  Russia,  in  this  respect,  most 
resembles  the  United  States,  for  in  the  space  of  one  cen- 
tury, and  under  the  influence  of  one  man,  she  has  risen  to 
rank  and  authority  in  the  civilized  world.  But  how  inter- 
esting is  the  reflection,  that  two  centuries  ago,   this  land, 


444  MEMOIR   OF 

which  is  now  ornamented  with  villages,  highways  and 
vinejards,  was  a  howling  wilderness.  It  is  now  a  fruitful 
field.  Arts  and  sciences  here  flourish j'^vftftie  mechanism 
exhibits  its  glories  on  every  hand.  Oh,  favored  America  ! 
Prosperity  be  thine  forever.  Be  an  asylum  to  the  thou- 
sands who  throng  thy  shores  to  escape  the  rage  of  foreign 
tyrants.  Over  them  extend  thy  protecting  banner.  Thy 
fame  is  known  throughout  the  earth  ;  thy  sons  are  honored 
in  every  nation.  Righteousness  has  exalted  us.  1.  In 
enjoyment.  2.  In  usefulness.  3.  In  honor.  4.  In  the 
favor  of  Heaven.  With  all  the  world  we  are  now  at 
peace ;  plenty  crowns  our  cheerful  toil ;  party  rage  gradu- 
ally subsides  as  light  advances,  and  truly  may  every 
American  say,  '  The  lines  are  fallen  to  me  in  pleasant 
places  ;  yea,  I  have  a  goodly  heritage.'  " 

"  Before  me  are  aged  veterans  of  the  Eevolution. 
Honored  fathers,  your  names  and  services  are  not  forgot- 
ten by  your  country.  Let  your  hearts  expand  in  grati- 
tude to  God,  who  has  more  than  crowned  your  sanguine 
hopes.  Before  me  are  many  who  were  active  in  the 
preservation  of  the  Republic  during  the  conflicts  of  the 
late  war,  whose  services  have  saved  our  wives  from  the 
tomahawk  of  the  savage,  our  daughters  from  the  poAver 
of  a  hostile  foe,  and  our  helpless  innocents  from  the  grasp 
of  unsparing  violence.  On  3'ou  shall  rest  their  grateful 
recollections.  May  you  imitate  the  virtues  of  your  an- 
cestors, be  free  in  deed,  and  long  enjoy  the  blessings  of 
the  Republic." 

As  space,  in  a  degree,  is  limited,  I  shall  offer  but 
one  more  address,  delivered  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
May  1,  1836,  at  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  D.  F. 
Ladley.  At  the  house  of  Rev.  I.  N.  Walter,  whose 
cordial  and  extensive  hospitality  must  still  be  remem- 


KEV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  445 

berecl  bj  hundreds  who  have  been  his  guests,  I  had 
the  pleasure  to  nieet  Mr.  B.,  a  few  days  previous  to 
the  ordination  services  of  May  1.  Having  listened  to 
the  delivery  of  the  charge,  which  was  extemporaneous 
in  its  manner,  it  become  my  surprise  afterward,  that 
so  little  of  the  impression  there  made  should  have  been 
given  to  the  written  statement.  After  the  ordination 
sermon  had  been  preached  by  Mr.  Walter,  Mr.  Badger, 
who  was  seated  in  the  altar,  arose  and  said  :  — 

"Brother  Ladley, — It  becomes  my  duty,  by  the 
arrangements  of  the  solemn  exercises  of  this  day,  in  be- 
half of  those  ministers  who  have  united  in  your  ordina- 
tion —  this  church  and  the  whole  body  of  Christians  with 
which  you  stand  connected,  to  deliver  to  you  on  this  occa- 
sion, in  the  name  of  tlie  great  Head  of  the  church,  a 
charge  to  be  faithful  and  to  perform  all  the  duties  now 
devolving  upon  you  as  an  administrator,  with  dignity  and 
integrity.  You  now  fill  one  of  the  most  important  sta- 
tions ever  occupied  by  a  human  being.  A  minister  of 
the  Gospel,  an  ambassador  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  you  bear 
a  message  of  eternal  life  to  dying  men.  Your  work  is  to 
save  perishing  sinners  from  the  miseries  of  sin  and  the 
wrath  to  come  ;  your  station  is  responsible,  your  work  is 
arduous,  but  your  reward  is  sure.  The  strongest  who 
have  ever  entered  this  important  field  have  trembled  at 
the  thought  of  the  greatness  of  the  work  and  the  awful 
responsibilities  of  the  station,  and  no  doubt  you  have  been 
ready  to  exclaim,  '  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ? ' 
That  you  may  be  able  to  occupy  the  holy  ground  on  which 
you  are  called  in  the  providence  of  God  to  stand,  with 
satisfaction  to  yourself  and  profit  to  your  hearers,  suffer 
me  to  introduce  for  your  solemn  consideration  the  fol- 
lowing leading  points : 


446  MEMOIR    OF 

"1.  You  sljould  be  truly  pious.  No  man,  without  a 
genuine  experience  and  the  constant  influence  of  true 
piety  upon  his  heart  and  life,  is  fit  for  an  ambassador  of 
Jesus  Christ.  Sin  is  odious  in  -whatever  form  or  place  it 
exhibits  itself  In  the  profane  circle,  in  the  gambler's 
group,  in  the  drunkard's  shop,  in  the  vilest  streets  and 
haunts  of  wickedness  in  this  great  city,  how  hateful  it 
appears.  But  it  appears  not  so  bad  as  it  would  in  the 
parlors  of  the  rich,  in  the  circle  of  learned  and  refined 
society,  in  the  halls  of  justice,  the  councils  of  the  nation, 
or  in  the  house  of  religious  worship.  In  no  person  does 
sin  appear  so  bad  as  in  a  minister  of  the  Gospel ;  and  in 
no  place  is  it  so  unfit  as  in  the  sacred  desk.  What  would 
be  considered  innocent  in  another  man,  in  another  place, 
would  be  regarded  as  impious  in  you  while  ministering  at 
the  altar  of  a  holy  God.  Your  life  must  be  pure,  your 
conversation  blameless,  and  your  heart  must  cherish  holy 
affections  for  the  people  you  address  ;  it  should  be  like  the 
pot  of  incense  which  sent  forth  sweet  odors  constantly  to 
God.  Your  life  must  be  one  scene  of  solitude,  study, 
and  devotion.  You  must  be  so  far  crucified  to  this  vain 
world,  that  prayer,  preaching,  and  all  your  sacred  work 
shall  be  your  meat,  your  drink,  your  theme,  your  life.  Be 
ye  holy  that  bear  the  vessels  of  the  Lord. 

"  You  have  doubtless  seen  many  enter  the  work  of  the 
ministry  with  but  poor  success,  —  men  of  talents,  of  eru- 
dition, fine  orators,  who  never  witness  the  conversion  of 
souls  ;  whose  labors  appear  to  make  the  sinner  harder, 
and  more  averse  to  the  Gospel,  and  to  divide  and  sepa- 
rate the  precious  flock  of  Christ.  The  reason  is  plain  ; 
such  ministers  are  not  enough  like  Christ,  are  not  in  the 
spirit  of  the  Gospel  they  profess  to  preach.  Good  men 
are  sure  of  success,  be  their  talents  few  or  many ;  Christ 
is  with  them,  and  the  word  will  prove  a  savor  of  life  unto 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  447 

life.  If  you  are  and  continue  to  be  a  good  man,  —  have 
salt  in  yourself,  —  go  to  your  work  with  prayer,  perform 
your  duties  faithfully,  come  down  from  your  pulpit  on  all 
occasions  with  a  conscience  void  of  offence  towards  God 
and  man ;  your  labors  will  be  a  blessing  to  the  world, 
your  peace  will  be  like  a  river,  and  your  reward  will  be 
great  in  heaven.  Therefore,  dear  brother,  suffer  me  to 
exhort  you  on  tliis  solemn  occasion,  while  you  stand  upon 
the  threshold  of  your  great  work,  to  study  and  labor, 
every  day  of  your  life,  to  possess  and  enjoy  genuine  piety 
in  the  sight  of  God.  This  will  give  life  and  energy  to  all 
your  labors,  and  will  be  a  source  of  never-failing  conso- 
lation in  every  hour  of  trouble. 

"  2.  The  great  object  of  your  labors  should  be  to  make 
others  pious.  Every  sermon  should  be  one  persuasive 
oration  for  men  to  be  good.  To  win  the  applause  of  your 
hearers,  to  instruct  them  in  the  theory  of  the  Christian 
religion,  is  not  enough.  Thousands  of  such  superficial 
Christians  will,  no  doubt,  sink  down  to  hell.  Gospel 
truth  must  be  set  home  in  faithfulness  to  the  sinner's  heart 
He  must  be  made  to  feel  that  unless  he  is  born  again  he 
cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God.  The  minister  should 
never  feel  satisfied  with  the  condition  of  his  hearers  un- 
less he  is  confident  that  they  are  *  in  Christ '  —  *  are  new 
creatures^  —  that  with  them  ^  old  things  are  passed  aiuay 
and  all  things  are  become  neiv'  In  order  to  be  successful 
in  producing  spiritual  reform,  all  your  addresses  and  la- 
bors must  assume  the  tone  and  character  of  friendship, 
and  of  kind  entreaty.  You  can  never  frighten  rational 
intelligences  into  the  love  of  God  ;  you  cannot  drive  men 
into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;  you  cannot  storm  and  force 
sinners  home  to  the  bosom  of  the  Saviour.  But,  Sir,  you 
can  reason  with  them,  you  can  persuade,  entreat,  and 
pray  them  in  Christ's  stead  to  be  reconciled  to  God.  You 


448  MEMOIR    OF 

must  exhibit  the  glorious  majesty  and  bountiful  dealings 
of  the  great  God,  the  atonement,  the  sufferings,  the  love 
and  compassion  of  the  glorious  Redeemer,  the  intelli- 
gence, doctrine,  promises  and  claims  of  the  Gospel,  which 
is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation.  Tliese  truths,  pro- 
claimed in  the  right  manner,  and  under  the  direction  of 
the  right  spirit,  will  surely  produce  the  desired  effect. 
Remember  that  when  you  have  influenced  one  sinner  to 
forsake  the  error  of  his  ways  and  to  embrace  and  conform 
to  the  Saviour,  you  have  accomplished  more  than  when 
you  have  made  any  number  of  wrangling  proselytes  to 
party.  To  win  men  to  Christ,  and  to  make  them  good,  is 
the  great  object  to  which  your  energies  should  be  de- 
voted. 

*'  3.  It  is  your  duty  to  cultivate  holiness,  union,  and  zeal 
in  the  church  of  God.  A  careless  way  of  living,  a  vain, 
a  licentious,  a  cruel  and  haughty  spirit  should  never  be 
encouraged  by  a  minister  of  Christ.  Every  disciple  of 
Jesus  should  be  plainly  taught  that  without  holiness  no 
man  can  see  the  Lord. 

"  Again,  look  abroad  in  Christendom  and  behold  the 
divided  and  subdivided  flock  of  Christ.  See  the  infidel 
vuhure  feasting  upon  the  havoc  which  wicked  and  un- 
skilful ministers  have  made  in  Zion.  While  you  behold 
this  gloomy  picture,  and  listen  to  the  holy  injunction  of 
the  great  Head  of  the  church  for  his  people  to  be  one; 
raise  the  warning  voice,  lift  the  banner  of  truth,  and  with 
the  authority  of  Heaven,  plead  for  union  and  peace 
among  all  that  love  and  serve  God. 

"  Also  labor  to  encourage  zeal  for  the  truth,  and  liberty 
of  the  Gospel  among  the  saints.  The  Catholics  are  zeal- 
ous, infidels  are  zealous,  proud  sectarians  are  compassing 
sea  and  land  to  make  proselytes  ;  and  saints  who  have  no 
creed  but  the  Bible,  and  no  master  but  Christ,  should  be 


REV.    JOSEPH  BADGER.  449 

zealous  to  advance  and  promulgate  the  truth.  Influence 
should  be  exerted,  talent  should  be  employed,  and  a  part 
of  our  earthly  treasures  should  be  cheerfully  dedicated  to 
the  holy  cause.  These  things  you  should  teach  and  urge 
upon  the  consideration  of  all  who  love  the  truth. 

"4.  I  charge  you  to  love  the  cause,  and  to  consider  no 
sacrifice  too  great  for  its  advancement.  The  nature  of 
your  calling  is  such  that  you  cannot  with  propriety  enter 
into  the  speculations  of  the  world.  The  prospect,  there- 
fore, of  worldly  honor  and  worldly  treasure,  must  be  laid 
aside  for  the  humble  cross  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus. 
You  should  glory  in  nothing  save  the  cross,  by  which  you 
are  crucified  to  the  world  and  the  world  unto  you.  Your 
work  as  evangelist  will  separate  you  from  many  of  the 
friends  of  3'our  youth,  and  deprive  you  of  a  thousand 
domestic  joys  which  are  the  portion  of  your  brethren  in 
a  private  circle.  Also  your  work  is  hard  and  laborious, 
which  has  caused  thousands  of  the  best  constitutions  to 
sink  under  it.  I  have  been  devoted  to  the  ministry  only 
twenty-four  years,  and  have  seen  many  of  my  first  associ- 
ates, young  and  in  the  prime  of  life,  sink  under  their  labors 
into  premature  graves.  I  have  seen  the  strong  and  robust 
youth,  whose  eye  was  bright,  whose  nerve  was  strong, 
whose  cheek  was  like  the  rose,  when  he  entered  the  work ; 
but  after  a  few  years,  he  falters,  he  fails,  he  dies,  a  holy 
martyr  to  the  truth,  I  trust,  Sir,  you  have  seriously 
counted  the  cost,  and  received  Christ  at  the  loss  of  all 
things.  How  will  unfaithful  ministers  appear  in  the  great 
day,  w4io  have  sought  the  applause  of  men,  studied  their 
own  ease,  and  made  no  sacrifice  for  the  cause  of  God  ?  If 
we  suffer  with  him  on  earth,  we  shall  be  glorified  with  him 
in  heaven. 

"  5.  Shun  the  delusion  and  wickedness  of  sectarism. 
This  is  an  age  of  party,  of  sectarian  rage  and  bitterness. 


450  MEMOIR    OP 

It  is  a  time  of  universal  strife,  excitement  and  war.  The 
civil  and  religious  world  are  in  a  state  of  unnatural  and 
unreasonable  commotion.  Almost  every  subject  is  driven 
to  an  alarming  extreme,  and  the  basest  measures  are  some- 
times employed  to  advance  sectarian  objects.  What  blind- 
ness and  delusion  mark  the  progress  of  sectarism ! 
What  cruelty  and  wickedness  follow  in  her  train  !  The 
commands  and  institutions  of  Jesus  are  trampled  under 
foot,  and  brotherly  love  and  Christian  forbearance  are 
bani>hed  far  from  the  soul  of  the  bigot.  This,  doubtless, 
is  the  time  spoken  of  in  the  Scriptures,  when  the  heavens 
and  the  earth  are  to  be  shaken.  Now  is  the  time  for  the 
man  of  God  to  be  cool  and  candid.  Never  descend  from 
your  high  and  holy  calling  to  the  low  pursuits  of  grovel- 
ling sectarism ;  never  forsake  the  great  message  of  love 
and  salvation  you  are  destined  to  proclaim,  to  mingle  in 
the  petty  wrangles  of  party.  Never  turn  aside  from  the 
path  of  justice  and  charity  to  vend  the  cruel  slanders  of 
the  times,  or  to  censure  and  condemn  a  brother  who  differs 
from  you  in  opinion.  Let  justice,  kindness  and  charity 
mark  all  your  proceedings,  and  you  will  be  a  good  minister 
of  Christ,  and  a  light  in  the  world.  Be  a  Christian,  a 
LIBERAL,  GENUINE  CHRISTIAN ;  and  ncvcr  suffer  any 
sectarian  act  of  cruelty  to  tarnish  your  fame,  nor  wound 
your  conscience. 

'*  G.  Be  patient  in  the  sufferings,  and  humble  in  the 
success  that  may  attend  your  ministry.  One  of  the  great- 
est arts  of  human  happiness  is  to  keep  the  mind,  under 
all  circumstances,  in  one  even,  regular  position,  neither 
too  much  elated  by  flattering  prospects,  nor  too  much  de- 
pressed by  misfortunes.  It  requires  as  much  strength 
and  exertion  to  sustain  ourselves  against  the  temptations 
and  allurements  of  prosperity,  as  it  does  to  bear  up  under 
the  heavy  pressure  of  adversity.     We   see  but  few  men 


REV.  JOSEPH  BADGER.  451 

who  are  raised  to  important  stations  in  life,  who  have 
sufficient  wisdom  and  strength  to  act  the  part  of  plain, 
natural,  sensible  men.  See  a  person  raised  from  poverty 
to  wealth  by  some  unexpected  smile  of  fortune ;  how 
frequently  he  becomes  a  proud,  haughty,  intemperate 
novice.  Some  men  raised  to  important  stations  in  State, 
are  filled  with  vanity  and  egotism  ;  useless,  hateful  syco- 
phants. As  lamentable  as  the  fact  is,  in  the  church  like- 
wise this  trait  of  human  weakness  is  sometimes  discovered. 
But  a  man  who  is  filled  with  pride  and  importance  on 
being  inducted  into  office  in  the  Church  of  God,  has  no 
just  views  of  himself  or  his  calling,  and  is  altogether 
unfit  for  the  station  he  fills.  Such  vain  and  deceived  per- 
sons will  be  lords  over  God's  heritage,  are  miserable 
examples  to  the  flock  of  Christ ;  their  labors  will  be  a 
constant  source  of  corruption  and  temptation  to  the  saints, 
and  the  sooner  congregations  are  purged  from  such  tyrants, 
such  wells  without  water,  the  better. 

"  My  brother,  when  prosperity  smiles  all  around,  when 
your  labors  are  crowned  with  a  rich  harvest,  when  your 
praise  and  popularity  are  the  theme  of  every  tongue,  and 
affectionate  greetings  and  cheering  smiles  of  applause  are 
seen  in  every  countenance ;  then,  oh  !  then  be  humble; 
like  Mary,  weep  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and  press  the  holy 
cross  closer  and  closer  to  your  trembling  heart,  and  bless 
the  Lamb  of  God,  that  his  blood  was  ever  applied  to  such 
a  sinner.  On  the  other  hand,  when  afflictions  gather  thick 
in  your  path,  when  base  envy  shall  prompt  the  tongue  of 
slander  to  assail  you,  when  the  storms  of  persecution  shall 
gather  in  threatening  aspect  on  every  side,  and  pale  pov- 
erty stare  you  in  the  face  ;  then  is  the  time  to  collect  all 
your  energies,  all  your  strength,  and  all  your  fortitude. 
Then,  while  you  repose  with  unshaken  confidence  on  the 
.immutable  promises  of  Jehovah,  be  sure  to  put  forth  your 


452  MEMOIR    OF 

efforts  still  for  the  promotion  of  holy  truth  ;  be  the  same 
man  in  spirit  and  in  life  now,  that  you  were  in  your  favored 
days  of  success.  Never  suffer  your  heart  to  indulge  de- 
spair under  any  circumstances,  and  ever  wear  a  becoming 
cheerfulness  upon  your  countenance.  But,  Sir,  I  must 
close,  by  expressing  my  happiness  in  my  short  acquaint- 
ance with  you  — my  confidence  in  your  ability  and  integ- 
rity, and  my  fervent  wish  for  your  prosperity,  happiness 
and  success.  And  when  the  Great  Shepherd  shall  come 
to  gather  all  his  faithful  watchmen,  and  his  precious  elect 
from  the  four  winds  of  heaven,  may  you  be  numbered 
among  the  sanctified,  and  meet  the  precious  souls  for  whom 
you  have  labored  on  earth,  at  God's  right  hand!    Amen." 

His  sermons,  not  being  written,  cannot  bo  offered  to 
the  world.  They  only  live  in  the  effects  they  produced, 
and  in  the  memories  of  the  people  ;  and  his  written 
plots  were  so  brief,  that  their  presentation  would  be  but 
the  mockery  of  a  just  idea  of  the  discourses  given.  I 
will,  therefore,  not  transcribe  them  ;  these  plots,  how- 
ever, range  over  every  variety  of  subject.  He  once 
said  to  a  few  young  ministers,  that  he  disliked  the  plan 
of  announcing  to  a  congregation,  at  the  commence- 
ment, the  order  of  a  subject,  for  the  reason  that  it  gave 
them  the  opportunity  of  anticipating  too  readily  what 
he  would  say.  "  Let  the  order  of  the  subject  unfold 
to  them  as  newly  as  possible,"  was  his  usual  motto  in 
preaching.  He  also  said  :  — "  Be  sure  to  preach  so 
plain  that  the  most  ignorant  person  in  the  house  will 
understand  you  ;  then  even  the  learned  will  be  pleased." 
A  very  conscientious  man  who  believed  in  the  annihi- 
lation of  the  wicked  —  which  he  called  the  second  death 
—  once  came  to  him  for  advice  in  relation  to  its  having 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  453 

a  prominent  place  in  his  ministrj.  "  I  will  tell  jou," 
said  Mr.  Badger,  "  what  to  preach.  Preach  life. 
Preach  life^  my  brother ;  the  people  want  life,  not 
death:' 

A  sermon  for  moral  enterprise  he  gave  at  lona, 
N.  Y.,  January,  1835,  could  it  be  given  as  he  spoke 
it,  would  do  more  toward  setting  forth  his  pulpit  abil- 
ity than  all  we  can  publish  or  say  on  the  subject.  His 
text  was  Neh.  2  :  20 :  "  The  God  of  heaven,  he  will 
prosper  us  ;  therefore  let  us  arise  and  build."  The 
same  might  be  said  of  any  of  his  ablest  discourses ; 
this  is  mentioned  simply  because  it  was  the  first  ser- 
mon I  ever  heard  him  preach.  As  the  plot  of  a  ser- 
mon, then  delivered  on  the  excellency  of  the  Gospel, 
lies  before  me,  I  will  present  it,  it  being  a  fair  speci- 
men of  his  usual  manner  of  committing  the  points  of  a 
sermon  to  paper.  Text,  Rom.  1 :  16 :  "I  am  not 
ashamed  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ." 

''1.  To  arrive  at  a  state  in  which  we  glory  in  the  Gos- 
pel above  all  other  institutions  and  systems,  is  the  high- 
est condition  of  perfection  on  earth. 

"  Reasons  why  we  should  not  be  ashamed  of  the  Gos- 
pel :  1.  The  dignity  of  its  author.     2.  Its  authenticity. 

3.  Its  salutary  influence  on  society.  It  civilizes  man ; 
it  elevates  woman.  It  enlightens,  convicts,  and  saves 
sinners.     It   unites    Christians ;   is  the  bond  of  society. 

4.  Its  doctrine  is  rational  and  consistent.  5.  Its  institu- 
tions are  all  agreeable.  6.  Its  worship  is  satisfying  and 
delightful.     7.  Its  end  and  object  is  immortality." 

In  passing  over  his  dedication  services,  one  is  oft 
times  struck  with  the  moral  weight  and  elegance  of 


454  MEMOIR    OF 

the  passages  from  which  he  spoke,  as,  for  instance,  at 
the  consecration  of  the  Christian  chapel,  September, 
1832,  in  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.,  he  addressed  the  peo- 
ple from  John  8  :  32  :  "Ye  shall  know  the  truth,  and 
the  truth  shall  make  you  free."  He  dwelt  on  the  ex- 
tent, the  power,  and  the  excellence  of  truth,  the  con- 
ditions of  knowing  it,  and  the  freedom  it  brings.  In 
speaking  on  the  last  division  of  the  subject,  he  alluded 
to  four  evils  from  which  the  truth  liberates  believers, 
namely,  ignorance,  sin,  the  misery  of  guilt,  and  the 
enslaving  fear  of  death.  On  the  last  idea,  he  dwelt 
with  peculiar  force,  showing  how  the  revelation  of  im- 
mortality dissipates  death's  fears  and  glooms.  Tem- 
ples of  worship,  indeed,  derive  much  of  their  sacred- 
ness  from  the  consideration  that  they  are  meant  to  be 
temples  of  eternal,  imperishable  truth. 

Also  at  Berlin,  N.  Y.,  1834,  he  spoke  at  the  conse- 
cration of  the  Christian  chapel,  from  Rev.  22  :  1,  2: 
"  And  he  showed  me  a  pure  river  of  water  of  life, 
clear  as  crystal,  proceeding  out  of  the  throne  of  God 
and  of  the  Lamb.  In  the  midst  of  the  street,  and  on 
either  side  of  the  river,  was  there  the  tree  of  life,  which 
bare  twelve  manner  of  fruits,  and  yielded  her  fruit 
every  month  ;  and  the  leaves  of  the  tree  were  for  the 
healing  of  the  nations."  Only  those  who  have  seen 
his  ingenious  dealing  with  passages  of  lively  imagery 
can  imagine  the  exhibition  of  thought  this  text  would 
inspire,  whilst  he  traced  the  clear  Gospel  river  which 
flowed,  not  from  human  creeds  and  institutions,  but 
from  the  eternal  throne,  causing  life,  in  its  large  vari- 
ety, to  bloom  in  its  course. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  455 

April,  1824,  he  held  a  public  debate  with  a  liberally 
educated  clergyman  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  which, 
by  general  consent,  he  triumphantly  maintained  his 
cause.  The  rank  of  Jesus  appears  to  have  been  the 
principal  topic.  April  7,  1825,  at  Royal  ton,  N.  Y., 
he  preached  two  sermons,  embracing  the  supreme 
deity  of  Jesus,  and  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  in  reply 
to  Rev.  Mr.  Colton.  Sermon  first  is  founded  on  Rom. 
9  ;  5  :"  Of  whom  as  concerning  the  flesh  Christ  came, 
who  is  over  all,  God  blessed  forever."  Sermon  second 
is  founded  on  1  Tim.  2:5:  "  For  there  is  one  God, 
and  one  Mediator  between  God  and  men,  the  man 
Christ  Jesus."  In  laying  out  his  work  on  the  former 
passage,  he  observed  the  following  plan :  — 

'*  1.  Explain  the  text.  2.  Give  a  general  view  of  the 
Christian  doctnne  of  God  and  the  Son.  3.  Examine  and 
criticise  Mr.  Colton's  sermon.  4.  Give  my  reasons  for 
rejecting  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity.  In  explaining  the 
passage,  he  says,  '  I  regard  this  text  as  a  simple  declara- 
tion relative  to  the  fulfilment  of  the  promises  alluded  to 
in  the  preceding  verse  —  promises  made  to  the  Israelites, 
of  whom,  as  concerning  the  flesh,  Christ  came  —  that  is, 
of  or  through  those  Israelites  his  lineage  is  traced,  and 
to  them  was  the  promise  of  the  Messiah  made.'  This  is 
the  first  doctrine  of  the  text,  and  is  so  self-evident  that  it 
requires  no  further  remark. 

*'  The  second  thing  in  this  verse  is,  that  Christ  is  de- 
clared to  be  '  over  all,'  which  represents  his  extensive 
reign,  his  universal  dominion,  his  superintendency  over 
all  the  affairs  of  the  New  Dispensation,  his  being  head 
over  all  things  unto  the  church,  which  is  his  body.  *  The 
head  of  every  man  is  Christ,  and  the  head  of  Christ  is 


456  MEMOIR    OP 

God.'  1  Cor.  11  :  3  —  which  agrees  with  the  Saviour's 
final  address  to  his  apostles  after  his  resurrection,  '  All 
power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth,'  Matt. 
28  :  18.  A  beautiful  description  of  his  being  first,  of  his 
having  preeminence,  is  given,  Col.  1  :  18,  19  :  'And  he 
is  the  head  of  the  body,  the  church  :  who  is  ihe]beginmng, 
the  Jirst-bor7i  from  the  dead,  that,  in  all  things,  he  might 
have  the  preeminence  ;  for  it  pleased  the  Father  that  in 
him  should  all  fulness  dwell.'  There  are  but  two  rational 
conclusions  that  can  be  drawn  from  the  words  *  God 
blessed  forever,'  to  neither  of  which  have  I  any  special 
objection.  1.  That  the  promise  is  fulfilled,  Christ  is  come, 
is  over  all,  therefore  bless  God  forever,  or  let  God  be 
blessed  for  ever,  for  his  fulfilment  of  so  great  and  glori- 
ous a  promise ;  which  accords  with  another  expression  of 
St.  Paul,  Pvom.  9:  15:  'Thanks  be  unto  God  for  his  un- 
speakable gift.'  According  to  this  view,  it  is  only  an 
exclamation  of  praise.  2.  That  he  is  '  blessed  of  God 
forever,'  as  the  expressions  —  God  blessed  and  blessed 
of  God  signify  the  same.  Ho  tvas  blessed  of  God,  and 
he  shall  be  blessed  of  him  forever.  God  promised  him, 
God  sent  him,  God  strengthened  and  glorified  him,  raised 
him  from  the  dead,  received  him  at  his  own  right  hand, 
and  has  committed  to  liim  judgment ;  and,  under  God,  he 
shall  reign  over  all  till  the  last  enemy  is  conquered. 
Where  is  the  Avord  or  the  idea  of  a  Trinity  in  this  text  ? 
I  cannot  find  it." 

In  the  last  part  of  the  discourse,  he  assigns  seven 
reasons  for  rejecting  the  Trinity,  which  are  :  — 

"1.  It  is  not  a  doctrine  of  Revelation,  but  is  an  inven- 
tion of  men  in  a  dark  age.  2.  It  contradicts  plain  decla- 
rations of  Scripture.  3.  It  contradicts  reason.  4.  It 
has  always  caused  contention  in  the  church,  and  now  is 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  457 

the  greatest  subject  of  controversy  in  Christendom.  5.  It 
is  a  doctrine  whicli  obliges  its  believers  to  contradict 
themselves  in  preacJdng  and  in  prayer.  6.  It  involves 
the  idea  it  claims  to  despise  —  a  humau^ ax lonv^  a  human 
atonement.     7.  It  is  the  foundation  of  dei^^ra." 

February,  1841,  whilst  conducting  a  series  of  meeti- 
ings  at  Stafiford,  N.  Y.,  he  was  challenged  into  a  pub- 
lic debate  at  Morganville,  by  Rev.  J.  Whitney,  an 
ultra  Universalist,  in  which  Mr.  "W.  engaged  to  prove : 

1.  That  the   last  judgment   is  confined   to  this   life. 

2.  The  final  salvation  of  all  men.  3.  That  ultra  Uni- 
versalism  is  better,  in  its  moral  tendency,  than  any 
other  system  of  faith.  The  order  of  discussion  was  a 
sermon  each.  Mr.  Badger  spoke  first,  taking  for  his 
entire  speech  four  hours  and  twenty  minutes.  The 
plot  of  his  sermon  is  very  lengthy,  and  laid  out  in  the 
form  of  a  massive  strength.  It  was  one  of  those  mas- 
terly efforts  to  which  a  successful  reply  would  seem 
impossible. 

Volumes  of  interesting  personal  reminiscences,  those 
that  would  be  characteristic  of  the  man  might  be  writ- 
ten, provided  his  contemporaries  would  pour  out  their 
recollections  in  a  form  that  would  be  available  for  a 
writer's  use.  I  would  here  narrate  an  incident  given 
me  on  good  authority,  which  illustrates  his  readiness 
for  an  emergency.  In  the  village  of  his  residence, 
some  eight  or  ten  years  ago,  the  Episcopal  Churchy 
and  the  citizens  generally,  had  assembled  in  their 
chapel,  splendidly  illuminated  on  Christmas  Eve,  ex- 
pecting to  hear  a  sermon  for  the  occasion  from  an 
20 


458  MEMOIR    OF 

Episcopal  clergyman  from  a  distance.  The  clergy 
man  arrived  in  town,  but  not  sufficiently  early  to  look 
over  his  papers,  and  to  prepare  for  the  service.  He 
declined  to  speal^  The  leading  man  of  the  society, 
who  felt  deeply  the  disappointment,  saw  but  one  method 
by  which  to  save  the  credit  of  the  occasion,  which  was 
to  get  Mr.  Badger  to  preach.  No  other  clergyman 
would  dare  to  attempt  itr  The  people  were  assembled, 
expectations  were  high.  He  at  once,  came  to  jNIr. 
Badger's  house,  found  tliat  he  had  just  returned  from 
Lakcville,  weary  with  labor,  and  was  reclining  in  front 
of  the  fire.  He  told  him  the  facts  of  the  case,  that 
he  must  go  to  the  church  and  preach  the  sermon,  that 
not  a  moment  could  be  lost.  Mr.  Badger  arose,  and 
without  waiting  to  find  a  text,  to  brush  his  coat,  or  to 
comb  his  hair,  walked  with  him  to  the  chapel,  entered 
the  desk,  and  without  much  apology,  gave,  what  the 
citizens  have  ever  since  declared  to  be,  a  most  eloquent 
and  able  discourse  —  a  better  than  which,  they  had 
never  heard  him  give. 

In  the  village  of  Springport,  during  his  labors  there, 
a  few  men  of  skeptical  cast  of  mind  thought  they  would 
embarrass  him  by  sending  him  a  text,  accompanied  by 
a  respectful  request  that  they  would  be  glad  to  hear 
him  preach  from  it.  The  text  was  Ecc.  3  :  21 :  "  Who 
knoweth  the  spirit  of  man  that  goeth  upward,  and  the 
spirit  of  the  beast  that  goeth  downward  to  the  earth?  " 
It  was  handed  to  him  one  evening,  and  he  preached 
from  it  the  next.  After  speaking  respectfully  and 
thankfully  of  his  indebtedness  to  some  three  or  four 
gentlemen  for  the  subject  on  which  he  should  speak,  he 
proceeded  to  give  the   import  of  the  passage  thus : 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  459 

King  Solomon,  he  said,  was  an  observer,  a  thinker,  and 
a  man  of  knowledge.  He  saw  the  two  natures  of  man, 
his  body  and  spirit :  that  as  respects  the  former,  all  go 
to  one  place,  man  and  beast ;  but  that  notwithstanding 
the  plainness  of  these  outward  phenomena,  an  impene- 
trable mystery  remains  in  respect  to  the  spirit  of  each. 
"  Who  knoweth  the  spirit  of  man  that  goeth  upward  ?  " 
that  is,  who  comprelunds  it,  who  can  declare  the  whole 
mystery  of  its  powers  ?  Who  comprehends  the  spirit 
of  the  beast  ?  —  this  too  is  mystery.  The  wise  man, 
said  Mr.  Badger,  knew  the  limit  of  knowledge.  After 
giving  this  view  of  the  passage,  which  cleared  it  of  all 
imagined  difficulty,  and  which  is  justified  by  the  letter 
of  the  text,  he  preached  a  sermon  on  the  immortal  na- 
ture and  destiny  of  man.  Near  the  close,  after  apply- 
ing the  subject  quite  cifcctively,  he  called  attention  to 
the  object  for  which  the  gentleman  had  given  the  text. 

"The  only  purpose,  said  he,  "  why  this  passage  was 
sent  me  under  these  peculiar  circumstances,  was  to  estab- 
lish the  doctrine  that.mwn  is  a  beast,  that  he  has  only  the 
destiny  of  a  beast.  This,"  said  he,  "  is  a  grave  position. 
Were  I  to  meet  one  of  those  gentlemen  to-morrow,  and 
in  my  salutation  call  him  a  beast,  would  he  not  regard  it 
as  a  gross  insult  ?  Look  at  the  origin  of  this  request.  A 
few  men,  or  beasts  if  they  are  determined  to  have  it  so, 
meet  and  talk  about  the  Bible,  the  church,  religion  and 
the  ministers.  They  say  the  Bible  is  a  fable,  religion  is 
imagination,  and  the  clergy  are  after  the  people's  money. 
Now  let  us  send  the  minister  a  text  that  proves  there  is 
no  hereafter.  Is  not  this  conversation  on  a  pretty  high 
order  of  subjects  for  beasts  ?     And  this  handwriting  too 


460  MEMOIR    OF 

(holding  up  the  note)  looks  very  handsome  and  fair  for  a 
beast.     Animals  are  fast  ascending." 

The  power  of  this  satire,  as  given  by  him,  was  per- 
fectly triumphant,  and  it  is  needless  to  add  that  he  was 
ever  after  left  to  choose  his  own  subjects.  But  in 
this  line  of  remark  we  are  obliged  to  desist,  not  having 
been  supplied  with  material  for  a  chapter  of  personal 
recollections. 

A  few  remarks  from  two  or  three  of  his  contemporaries 
will  close  this  chapter.  Rev.  L.  D.  Fleming,  of 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  writes  as  follows : 

**  He  is  associated  with  all  the  remembrances  of  my 
early  Christian  experience.  In  many  respects  he  was  an 
extraordinary  man.  Few  men  take  as  deep  an  interest  in 
the  wants  and  necessities  of  young  ministers  as  he  did. 
He  was  always  ready  to  lift  them  up  when  through  dis- 
couragement they  were  falling  ;  and  he  had  a  most  happy 
gift  for  drawing  them  out,  for  developing  their  mental  re- 
sources, for  inspiring  them  with  hope  when  hopeless,  and 
with  that  necesssry  self-reliance  which  many  lack,  and  for 
the  want  of  which  many  abandon  their  calling.  He 
treated  them  not  only  as  babes  in  Christ,  '  feeding  them 
with  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word,'  but  as  fellows  with 
him  in  the  Gospel  mission.  This  was  an  inspiring  fel- 
lowship,  Avhere  lay  much  of  his  hidden  power.  Plow  often 
have  I  known  him  to  ask  the  advice  of  the  young  minister 
on  important  subjects,  not,  probably,  that  he  expec  ed 
that  they  could  unravel  knotty  questions,  or  enlighten 
him.  He  intended  to  draw  them  into  a  new  field  of 
thought,  to  set  them  in  pursuit  of  their  own  resources, 
and  to  kindle  up  the  fires  of  mentality  as  no  other  means 


REV.   JOSEPH    BADGER.  461 

■vvculd  have  done  it.  He  liad  tact  and  talent  peculiarly 
his  own.  His  nature  overflowed  with  the  milk  of  human 
kindness  ;  this,  associated  with  his  peculiar  organization, 
gave  him  that  great  social  power  "which  was  one  charac- 
teristic of  his  life.  Although  I  cannot  Kope  by  anything 
I  can  say,  to  add  to  his  fame,  I  feel  a  pleasure  in  bear- 
ing testimony  to  those  entrancing  social  qualities  and 
Christian  virtues,  "which  should  be  emulated  by  all  lovers 
of  the  Gospel  he  professed,  and  by  "which  he  became  en- 
deared to  multitudes." 

From  Rev.  0.  E.  Morrill,  of  PlainviHe,  Onondaga 
County,  N.  Y.,  v^e  take  the  follo"\Ying  lines : 

^'  Much  has  already  been  said,  and  well  said  by  Messrs. 
Ilazein  and  Fay,  in  their  obituary  notices,  and  it  would 
seem  superfluous  in  me  to  reiterate  the  same  things.  It 
may  be  proper  for  me  to  observe,  that,  within  a  few  past 
years  many  of  our  "worthy  brethren  in  the  ministry,  with 
"whom  I  have  battled  in  the  Lord's  war  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  have  retired  from  the  battle  field 
"with  an  honorable  discharge.  The  name  of  Joseph  Bad- 
ger now  becomes  classified  with  those  of  Peavy,  Bailey, 
Clough,  Morrison,  Shaw,  Fernald,  and  more  recently 
with  our  deeply  lamented  brother  Barr. 

"  I  knew  all  these  men  when  young,  and  loved  them  as 
my  own  natural  brothers.  They  were  all  pious,  devoted 
ministers  of  the  Gospel.  They  Avere  persevering,  faithful 
pioneers,  and  true  to  the  spirit  and  doctrine  of  the  Chris- 
tian reformation.  Men  of  the  first  class  of  natural  talents, 
but  of  moderate  literary  accomplishments,  they  Were  em- 
phatically a  c^ass  of  self-sacrificing  men,  public  benefac- 
tors of  our  race.  They  commenced  in  the  ministry  when 
young,  labored  hard,  fared  hard,  lived  upon  short  pay,  and 


462  MEMOIR    OF 

survived  to  see  their  storm-beaten  vessel  under  full  sail 
before  a  refreshing  breeze,  and  died  in  peace. 

"  Of  all  these  good  men  it  may  seem  invidious  to  make 
a  distinction,  but  without  intending  the  least  detraction 
from  the  rest  of  them,  I  may  be  permitted  to  say,  that, 
from  some  strong  affinity  of  our  nature,  or  some  other  cause 
I  cannot  now  explain,  Mr.  Badger  was  always  nearer  and 
dearer  to  me  than  either  of  the  rest  of  tliem.  We  loved 
like  Jonathan  and  David.  Our  souls  were  knit  together. 
We  were  raised  in  adjoining  towns  in  New  Hampshire, 
and  he  was  but  a  few  years  my  senior.  Ilis  whole  nature 
was  cheerful,  his  address  familiar  and  easy,  and  all  his 
associations  were  frank,  kind,  and  interesting.  Ilis  natu- 
ral turn  was  affable,  and  he  enjoyed  sociability  with  an 
uncommon  relish. 

"  In  preaching,  his  voice  was  not  heavy,  but  clear,  soft, 
and  musical,  and  capable  of  being  heard  at  a  good  dis- 
tance. His  sermons  were  methodical,  his  ideas  clear,  dis- 
tinct, and  comprehensive.  He  was  familiar  with  the 
Scriptures,  and  evinced  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  books 
and  of  literature,  for  all  practical  purposes.  He  had  a 
well-disciplined  mind,  a  retentive  memory,  and  a  happy 
facult}^  of  communication.  He  Avas  never  at  a  loss  for 
words  to  express  his  thoughts,  nor  did  he  confuse  his  hear- 
ers with  a  redundancy  of  them.  His  preaching  was  not 
loud,  but  soft,  easy,  and  pleasant  to  the  hearer,  yet  pathet- 
ic and  commanding.  His  manner  was  never  boisterous, 
but  mild,  quiet,  and  agreeable.  He  never  lost  his  balance 
of  temper  in  debate,  but  always  bore  himself  through 
with  much  unaffected  pleasantry  and  good  humor.  He 
was  a  ready  writer,  a  close  thinker,  a  fair  debater,  a  good 
editor,  an  excellent  preacher,  and  a  strong  man.  He 
was  strictly  evangelical  in  doctrine,  according  to  Dr.  L. 
Beecher's  definition  of  that  term.     To  the  honor  of  his 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  463 

name  be  it  said,  he  never  had  the  least  sympathy  with 
Campbellism,  Millerism,  Calvinism,  or  Universalism,  but 
was  a  whole-hearted  Christian  individually,  theologically, 
and  denominationally. 

"  To  be  sure,  Brother  Badger  had  hi^  foibles,  imper- 
fections, and  mortal  weaknesses  as  well  as  other  men  ;  but 
now,  having  gone  from  us,  and  his  account  sealed  up  to 
the  great  day,  let  the  broad  mantle  of  Christian  charity 
cover  these  forever,  as  he  can  give  no  further  explana- 
tions, make  no  defence,  nor  be  benefited  by  our  limited 
extenuations.     Peace  to  his  ashes  !  " 

Rev.  J.  Ross,  of  Charleston,  N.  Y.,  says : 

*'  My  first  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Badger  was,  I  think, 
in  the  fall  of  181 G.  He  then,  in  company  with  ministers 
Avery,  Moulton,  and  J.  L.  Peavy,  called  at  my  father's 
house  in  Milton,  Saratoga  County,  N.  Y.,  and  held  a  meet- 
ing. Mr.  Peavy  preached.  This  was  a  little  over  two 
years  after  my  profession  of  religion,  and  the  organization 
of  the  Christian  church,  at  Ballstown.  There  was  then  a 
church  existing  at  Galway,  ten  or  twelve  miles  distant, 
and  brethren  scattered  throughout  various  towns  in  the 
vicinity.  Jabez  King  and  Philip  Sandford,  both  young 
men,  w^ere  nearly  all  the  help  we  had  in  that  vicinity. 
Mr.  Badger  and  his  associates  called  to  hold  a  general 
meeting  of  all  the  brethren  who  could  assemble  at  Galway, 
for  the  purpose  of  seeking  out  and  commending  to  the 
work,  such  persons  as  gave  evidence  of  having  gifts  profit- 
able for  the  Gospel  field.  The  meeting  was  held  in  Gal- 
way, in  the  first  chapel  ever  erected  by  our  people  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  A  number  of  young  and  diffident 
brethren,  who  afterwards  became  ministers,  w^ere  here 
takea   by  the   hand,    by  those   more   experienced,    and 


464  MEMOIR    OF 

encouraged  to  improve  their  gifts,  wliilst  the  churches  were 
taught  their  duty  to  tliem.     The  sympathy  and  union  gen- 
erated by  that  interview   doubtless  still  live   in   several 
hearts.     This  was  our  first  acquaintance  ;  and  the  act  of 
calling  that  meeting  for  the  encouragement  of  young  men 
whose  eye  was  on  the  ministry,  I  deem  peculiarly  charac- 
teristic of  the  subject  of  the  memoir.     No  young  man  in 
the  circle  of  his  influence  was  permitted  to  hide  a  profitable 
gift  in  a  napkin,  or  bury  his  talent  in  the  earth.     He  knew 
how  to  draw  out  the  most  diffident,  could  make  the  most 
of  them  when  drawn  out,  and  none  could  inspire  their  minds 
with  stronger  fortitude.     At  our  first  conference  at  Ilart- 
wick,  Otsego  County,  1818,    he  was  there   the   active, 
moving  spirit  of  that  body.     And  whatever  of  order  and 
good  arrangement  we  now  have  in   our  conferences  and 
conventions,  may  be  attributed,  more   than  to  any  other 
cause,  to  the  impetus  given  by  him  in  those  early  times. 
"  There  was  little  of  Don  Quixote  or  of  Utopianism  in 
his  constitution.     He  judged   accurately  of  the   effect  of 
causes.     He  was  cool,  calm,  and  self-possessed  amidst  ex- 
citing scenes  that  moved   the  multitude ;  and  wherever 
his  Gospel  labors   proved  effective,  society  was   built  up 
and  order  was  established.     He  was  a  close  observer  of 
men  and  things,  took   the  gauge  and  dimensions  of  men 
quickly,  and  it  was   usually  safe-  to  take  his  estimate  as 
th3  true  one.     lie  saw  coming  events  in  the  shadows  which 
preceded  them.     Seemingly  inspired  with   the  sentiment 
that  the  Gospel  was  the  God-appointed  lever  designed  to 
lift  the  world  from  its  moral  degradation,  he  shov*'ed  but 
little  sympathy  for  any  humanly  devised  means   of  ref- 
ormation.     'The  Gospel!    the  Gospel  !    THE  PURE 
GOSPEL! '  was  his  cry  for  the  cure  of  moral  evil.     A 
want  of  confidence  in  the  many  professedly  reformatory 
measures  and  associations  of  the  age  was   calculated  to 


KEY.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  465 

affect  his  popularity  in  many  quarters,  but  lie  adhered  un- 
waveringly to  his  motto,  *  the  Gospel.' 

''  His  sermons  had  method  peculiar  to  himself.  They 
always  had  order  and  arrangement ;  but  the  coherence  of 
the  parts  was  not  always  apparent  to  the  casual  observer. 
His  manner  in  the  pulpit  was  often  playful,  exciting  a  smile 
from  the  light-hearted,  and  sometimes  a  sigh  or  a  tear 
from  the  most  devout,  as  he  rowed  out  into  the  sea  of  pub- 
lic discourse.  But  the  scene  gradually  changed  as  he  ad- 
vanced in  his  labors,  as  his  design  began  to  be  revealed, 
and  his  subject  was  applied.  The  sigh  and  tear  were  oft 
exchanged  for  songs,  and  the  playful  smile  for  prayer  and 
tears.     He  always  closed  well. 

**  As  a  writer  '  he  is  known  and  read  of  all  men.'  His 
style  is  his  own,  plain,  clear,  ungarnished  and  straight-for- 
ward. For  this  difficult  station  of  editor  he  had  rare  ac- 
complishments ;  and  the  denomination  have  cause  for  last- 
ing gratitude  for  the  aid  and  encouragement  rendered  to 
inexperienced  writers,  and  for  the  impetus  he  gave  to  this 
mode  of  teaching.  A  glimpse  at  those  volumes  of  the 
Palladium,  issued  under  his  supervision,  and  then  at  the 
condition  of  the  correspondents  and  contributors,  or  the 
original  copy  from  which  it  was  made,  at  once  reveals  the 
singular  ability  of  the  man.  How  a  class  of  young 
writers  clustered  around  him !  A  thousand  blessings 
rest  upon  him  here  ! 

"  He  had  quick  perception,  great  decision,  and  concen- 
fration.  He  habitually  thought  at  early  dawn  ;  and  when 
his  purposes  were  laid,  every  energy  was  concentrated  upon 
that  single  point.  In  this  he  was  a  Washington,  a  Napo- 
leon, a  Wellington.  As  a  man  of  tact  I  have  not  known 
hie  equal.  To  this  quality  we  may  ascribe  much  of  his 
success  in  conducting  the  Palladium.  Many  who  could» 
have  written  a  labored  article  as  well,  or  better,  could  not 
20* 


466  MEMOIR   OP 

have  succeeded  in  conducting  the  paper  at  all.  Many 
with  his  resources  would  have  produced  a  mole-hill  when 
he  formed  a  mountain.  But  we  will  not,  we  dare  not,  say 
that  his  positions  and  his  means  of  sustaining  them  were 
always  right.  He  was  a  man  ;  and  in  this  utterance  we 
plainly  say  he  was  erring.  The  most  we  can  say,  the 
highest  character  we  would  give  our  brother  is,  we  hope, 
we  trust,  we  believe  he  was  a  CHRISTIAN." 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


REFLECTIONS. 


As  the  value  of  men  historically  stands  in  close  con- 
nection with  the  ideas  they  represent,  and  with  the 
movements  in  which  they  take  part,  it  is  relevant  to 
the  present  subject  that  we  glance  at  the  character  of 
the  reformation  in  which  Mr.  Badger  was  the  leading 
actor,  and  in  whose  principles  he  lived  and  preached 
more  than  a  third  of  a  century.  We  read  the  worth 
of  a  man  in  the  value  of  the  cause  he  aids.  Mankind 
evidently  arc  saved,  not  by  magic,  but  by  principles. 
The  moral  benefactor,  therefore,  is  to  be  prized  by  the 
service  he  renders  in  making  these  perfect  in  the 
knowledge,  and  effective  in  the  practice  of  his  fellows. 
What,  then,  are  the  historical  worth  and  characteris- 
tics of  the  Christian  Reformation,  in  whose  ministry 
Mr.  Badger  was  a  star  of  primary  magnitude  and 
brightness  ? 


REV.   JOSEPH   BADGER.  467 

Its  historical  worth  can  now  be  stated  but  partially, 
as  the  half  century  which  has  elapsed  since  the  first 
declaration  of  principles  is  too  small  a  space  of  time 
for  their  determination  in  results.  If,  in  all  reforma- 
tory movements,  the  conception,  utterance,  agitation, 
and  adoption  of  ideas,  are  the  natural  steps  of  progress 
by  which  new  truths  become  externized  in  permanent 
effects,  we  might  well  appropriate  the  period  of  time 
here  spoken  of  mostly  to  the  preparatory  stages  of  the 
work,  and  look  forward  to  the  future  for  the  final  ver- 
dict which  shall  declare  its  entire  importance.  This 
question  cannot  now  be  answered,  except  by  the  abil- 
ity which  reads,  in  moral  causes,  the  distant  triumphs 
they  contain.  As  a  future  forest  resides  in  present 
acorns,  so  great  future  changes  reside  in  present  truths. 

The  religious  sentiment  has  its  eras  in  the  world,  its 
triumphs  and  discouragements,  as  really  as  art  and 
science  have  theirs  ;  and  between  its  present  state  and 
final  victories  lie  many  great  and  earnest  revolutions. 
Three  things  may  be  safely  premised  on  this  subject : 
1.  The  religious  sentiment  is  mighty  and  eternal  in 
man,  and  therefore  will  forever  appear  with  prominence 
in  human  history.  2.  There  now  exist  all  the  truths 
and  all  the  principles  that  can  ever  possibly  appear. 
3.  The  increasing  hioivlcdge  of  truth,  the  development 
of  principles,  the  revolutions  that  are  needed  for  their 
establishment  in  the  w^orld  —  these  must  continue. 
To  truth  no  iota  can  ever  be  added,  it  being  already 
infinite  ;  but  its  development  in  human  history  must, 
like  human  nature,  be  progressive. 

In  looking  over  the  world's  religious  phenomena,  we 
notice,  among  the  defects,  a  mixture  of  truth  with 


468  3IEM0IR    OF 

superstition,  an  ignorance  of  everlasting  law,  which 
flows  through  all  departments  of  being,  and  into  which 
all  facts  are  resolved.  In  marking  the  particular  line 
of  religion  which  forms  the  boundary  of  Christendom, 
we  perceive,  in  the  inclosure,  the  abundance  of  secta- 
rism,  of  intolerance  and  persecution,  all  growing  out 
of  the  immense  importance  which  each  sect  attaches 
to  its  dogmas  of  belief,  to  its  name  and  organization. 
Prior  to  Protestantism,  the  church,  which  has  always 
boasted  of  its  unity,  imprisoned  and  burned  the  here- 
tic. The  belligerent  attitude  of  clergymen  now  con- 
clusively proves  that  theology,  or  divine  science,  is  not 
understood ;  for  it  is  impossible  that  honest  men  should 
quarrel  on  any  subject  of  which  they  have  a  full  com- 
prehension. War,  therefore,  is  the  proof  of  ignorance, 
and  ignorance  is  the  mother  of  intolerance  and  perse- 
cution. As  these  are  the  most  prominent  evils  the 
history  of  the  church  presents,  we  are  obliged  to  highly 
honor  the  principles  which  melt  these  asperities  into 
charity,  as  they  shine  from  the  effulgent  heaven  of  a 
wider  love.  Under  the  stern  authority  of  creeds,  a 
manly  freedom  will  scarcely  grow.  The  Christian  ref- 
ormation, which  began  with  the  masses,  and  not  with 
a  caste,  in  the  first  years  of  the  nineteenth  century, 
contained  principles  which  liberate  the  spirit  from  nar- 
row and  oppressive  bonds,  which  open  comparatively  a 
whole  broad  horizon  over  the  man  of  faith,  and  form  a 
larger  brotherhood  than  mere  uniformity  of  belief  can 
ever  create.  In  naming  distinctly  four  elements  of 
that  reformation,  the  view  here  offered  will  be  clearly 
verified. 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  469 

1.  It  cast  aside  sectarian  names.  To  -w'itness  the 
power  of  names,  whether  political  or  religious,  to  learn 
their  efficiency  in  perpetuating  a  division,  one  has  only 
to  look  at  the  different  parties  into  which  men  are  sep- 
arated. Often,  it  is  the  name  mostly  that  holds  a 
party  together,  and  that  forms  the  fimit  of  sympathy 
and  fraternization.  But  it  was  no  philosophical  reasons 
that  led  the  people  to  throw  off  all  sectarian  names. 
It  was  reverence  to  the  New  Testament,  and  to  the 
holy  sympathies  of  Christian  fellowship,  which  perpet- 
ually pass  beyond  the  artificial  boundaries  of  sect.  In 
reverence  to  the  New  Testament,  they  assumed  the 
Catholic  name  —  Christian,  and  conceded  it  to  all  of 
every  class  who  walked  in  purity  of  life. 

2.  They  exalted  the  Bible  to  the  exclusion  and  re- 
jection of  human  creeds.  Creeds  cannot  be  wiser  than 
to  men  who  made  them  ;  as  these  are  weak,  fallible 
creatures,  it  is  in  vain  to  seek  the  Rock  of  Ages  among 
their  products.  It  may  be  said  that  no  one  can  attend 
to  every  branch  of  business  ;  that  if  one  man  makes 
ploughs  he  should  be  excused  from  making  coffins,  and 
be  supplied  from  his  neighbor's  shop  ;  that  the  un- 
thinking masses,  whose  toil  absorbs  their  energy,  can- 
not form  their  own  belief;  that  each,  out  of  the  store- 
house of  creeds  already  made,  should  find  what  fits  his 
own  dimensions.  This  may  not  be  the  worst  advice  to 
one  who,  mentally,  is  ready  to  die,  and  needs  where- 
with to  be  entombed  ;  but  to  him  who  is  resolved  to 
live,  it  is  the  veriest  mockery.  If  the  Bible  is,  ac- 
cording to  the  general  concession,  the  firmanent  of 
suns  and  stars,  that  bends  morally  and  religiously  over 
mankind,  why  should  the  torch  and   taper  lights  of 


470  MEMOIR    OF 

theological  invention  be  substituted  in  its  place  ?  In 
the  daytime  is  not  the  radiance  of  the  sun  suflScient  ? 
The  cause  -which  induced  these  reformers  to  reject  the 
man-made  creeds,  was  simply  reverence  to  the  Book 
of  books,  and  to  the  individual  right  of  every  man  to 
learn  truth  for  himself,  undictated  by  the  authority  of 
men. 

3.  They  claimed  for  each  person  a  perfect,  indi- 
vidual freedom.  Romanism  denies  this  right ;  and, 
though  Protestanism  has  usually  admitted  it  in  the- 
ory, it  has  always  Romanized  in  practice.  Who  is 
authorized  to  be  the  master  of  my  thought  ?  Who  is 
commissioned  from  on  high  to  tell  me  what  I  am  to  be- 
lieve ?  Who  or  what  is  entitled  to  an  arbitrary  throne 
in  this  free  realm  ?  To  the  fish  God  gave  an  element 
in  which  they  are  free  ;  to  the  birds  and  trees  he  was 
equally  kind.  Nothing  grows  proportionately,  truly, 
except  freedom.  To  man  the  High  One  has  given  the 
boundless  element  of  truth,  a  shoreless  and  fathomless 
ocean  to  swim  in  ;  and  who  shall  here  compel  his  path  ? 
There  was  manliness  in  the  words  of  Henry,  "  Give 
me  liberty  or  give  me  death." 

4.  Experience  they  made  the  basis  of  religion. 
Their  bond  of  fellowship,  therefore,  did  not  say,  What, 
sir,  is  your  opinion  ?  It  asked  the  deeper  questions, 
Where  is  your  heart  ?  How  do  you  live  ?  Of  the 
Holy  Spirit  are  you  born  ?  It  is  true  that  the  doctrine 
of  one  God  in  one  person,  of  Jesus  as  his  son,  became 
with  them  a  general  behef,  probably  from  the  fact  that 
a  full  surrender  of  their  minds  to  the  Scriptures  as  ex- 
clusive authority  necessitated  these  convictions  ;  but 
no  notions  of  Trinity  or  Unity  were  ever  thought  of  as 


REV.    JOSEPH    BADGER.  471 

bonds  of  fellowsliip.  The  spirit  and  doctrine  of  that 
movement  cried  to  men  and  women  of  all  sects  and  of 
no  sect,  "  If  JOM  walk  by  faith  in  the  Son  of  God,  if 
you  love  the  Lord  Jesus,  if  you  try  to  live  the  holy  life, 
come  to  our  embrace,  come  to  the  syrfibolical  supper  of 
our  Lord.''  The  full  history  of  these  sentiments  in 
the  world,  the  future  must  write.  They  are  already 
introduced  ;  and  from  the  democratic  turn  which 
thought  and  education  are  everywhere  taking,  from  the 
liberal  spirit  which  every  new,  valuable  work  in  liter- 
ature breathes,  from  the  generally  increasing  aversion 
to  dogmatic  theology,  we  opine  that  they  are  destined, 
through  many  agencies,  to  triumph  sublimely  in  the 
Christian  world.  These  fathers,  like  those  of  the  May- 
flower, wrought  from  reverence  and  duty,  and  no  more 
than  they,  foresaw  the  distant  results  of  the  principles 
they  espoused.  But  time"  is  logical,  and  reproduces 
the  proper  fruit  of  every  seed.  The  movement  w^as 
self-relying,  but  more  especially  was  it  God-relying. 
Human  nature  in  its  view  is  not  self-illumined  even  in 
its  dutiful  action,  as  the  earth  by  no  majestic  revolv- 
ing can  cause  the  day.  This  proceeds  from  the  sun  ; 
and  from  the  Eternal  Sun  are  all  spirits  lighted. 

Li  the  cause  of  education,  Mr.  Badger's  interest  and 
care  survived  his  ability  to  speak  or  write  on  general 
questions.  On  the  new  educational  movement,  which 
has  since  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  Antioch  Col- 
lege, at  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio,  under  circumstances  of 
much  promise,  he  looked  with  anxious  and  hopeful 
solicitude,  always  inquiring  of  the  success  of  the  en- 
terprise ;  and  it  may  be  justly  said  that  his  last  years 
were  full  of  the  conviction  that  more  education  is   the 


472  MEMOIR    OF 

strongly  available  instrument  of  power.  He  lived  to 
see  the  denomination  "witli  whom  his  lot  was  cast,  be- 
come enthusiastically  awake  in  behalf  of  culture.  lie 
saw  it  and  rejoiced.  Though  his  people,  from  the 
warm,  intense  faith  through  which  they  had  early 
looked  to  the  region  of  ilie  spiritual  and  the  super- 
natural for  their  resources  of  conquest,  had  allowed 
human  accompHshment  to  be  in  a  degree  eclipsed,  they 
never  cherished  substantially  the  least  irreverence  to 
science  ;  for  the  reverence  of  truth,  native  in  all  spirits, 
extends  to  science,  which  is  nothing  more  than  truth 
made  known.  Against  this  precious  light,  which  comes 
out  of  nature  to  instruct  us  of  her  hidden  property  and 
law,  no  antagonism  ever  appeared.  Not  culture,  not 
science,  but  the  objectionable  narrowness  of  the  usual 
theological  training  ;  this  was  the  main  centre  of  their 
established  prejudice.  Th6  Seminary  at  Stark ey,  the 
Graham  Institute  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  College 
in  Ohio,  are  earnest  monuments  of  their  deep  regard 
for  the  culture  which  belongs  to  literature  and  to 
science  ;  the  last  named  success  being,  all  things  con- 
sidered, the  largest  movement  under  the  guiding  im- 
pulse of  liberal  faith,  that  has  ever  occurred  on  the 
continent.  The  genius  of  the  nineteenth  century  is  to 
educate.  Even  the  elements  are  disciplined  to  do  for 
man,  to  prepare  his  timbers,  to  print  his  thoughts,  to 
carry  him  on  his  journey,  to  bring  him  tidings  ;  and  in 
no  department  of  human  interest  and  enterprise  are 
raw  forces  ranked  in  value  with  educated  power.  From 
the  ignorance  in  which  life  universally  begins,  and  from 
the  infinity  of  unconquered  truth  that  ever  remains  to 
be  learned,  it  follows,  as  by  unyielding  necessity,  that 


REV.    JOSEPH   BADGER.  473 

the  liigh\Yaj  that  leads  from  man  as  a  savage  to  man 
as  the  ripened  glorj  of  the  universe,  is  none  other  than 
education. 

Mr.  Badger,  in  his  time  and  way,  was  indeed  an 
educator  (^e-duco,  to  call  oiif)^  and  his  whole  actian 
tended  to  impart  discipline  to  the  means  and  forces 
about  him.  His  position  on  this  subject  was  one  he 
never  changed  ;  and  it  is  remarkable  that  through  his 
long  life  there  are  no  contradictions  between  his 
avowed  opinions  at  different  times.  In  the  thorough 
retrospect,  from  the  close  to  the  beginning  of  his  public 
career,  one  is  impressed  with  the  idea  of  matureness, 
of  an  extraordinary  consistency.  Each  part  agrees 
with  the  rest.  So  strikingly  manifest  is  this  trait,  that 
we  are  not  surprised  at  the  words  of  Mr.  Wellons,  of 
Virginia,  who  said,  "  I  have' read  his  writings  from  my 
boyhood,  and  I  must  say  he  was  the  most  consistent 
man  I  ever  knew." 

Though  science  is  entitled  to  reverence  from  its 
sacredness,  and  to  regard  from  its  ministry  of  uses  and 
its  utility  in  breaking  up  the  dark  empire  of  supersti- 
tion, it  was  religion  in  its  great  and  catholic  elements, 
that  won  the  central  worship  of  his  heart.  The  one 
God,  the  one  Christ,  the  one  Spirit,  the  one  Gospel, 
the  one  brotherhood,  the  one  salvation,  freedom,  and 
fellowship  of  saints  ;  these  were  his  themes.  He  loved 
these  principles  with  a  firm  and  steadfast  affection.  As 
long  as  he  could  walk,  even  with  assistance,  he  urged 
his  way  to  the  sanctuary  of  their  proclamation.  These 
pioneers  were  indeed  strong,  invincible  spirits,  who 
prove  that  the  men  who  make  a  people  are  greater  than 
those  whom  the  people  make. 


DATE   DUE 

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GAYLORC 

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